144 STRA Y FEA THERS FROM MANY BIRDS. 



first place a loosely woven cup is formed of dry grass 

 and a flake or two of moss ; this is then lined with wet 

 mud or clay obtained from the nearest swamp, and 

 finally finished off with a second lining of decayed wood. 

 This latter material is obtained from old fences, roots of 

 trees or dead branches lying in the ditches, the birds 

 selecting those pieces which are already saturated with 

 wet ; or, if none can be found in this state, they moisten 

 the bits of wood in the nearest water. These logs soon 

 become tunnelled by the repeated visits of the Thrushes, 

 and unerringly proclaim the commencement of nest- 

 building to the observant naturalist. Sometimes a few 

 fine twigs or even dry holly or oak leaves are interwoven 

 round the rim of the nest, and then all is left for a day 

 or so to set and harden. Soon the four or five deep 

 blue eggs, spotted with very dark brown, will be laid, and 

 then the patient hen will commence her duty of in- 

 cubation, thoroughly drying the nest with the warmth 

 from her own body, her loving mate almost all the time 

 warbling his oft-repeated notes from a neighbouring bush 

 or tree. The Blackbird also builds its nest in these 

 hedgerows, but is a little later in commencing operations. 

 A holly-bush is a favourite situation ; but very often the 

 nest is made at the bottom of the hedge firmly wedged 

 between several thick branches, or even on the bank 

 amongst dry leaves and sprouting herbage. Indeed the 

 Blackbird is very partial to a low site, though it will 



