BRITISH BIRDS, WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 



S.Accciitori/uc (Accentors) including our so-called " Hedge-Sparrow," birds 

 which, though spotted after the manner of true Thrushes when they leave the 

 nest, exhibit affinity to the Titmice in their strong straight subconical bills, 

 rounded wings with short bastard-primary (the first feather in the wing), and 

 strong scaled feet : the latter have the outer and middle toes united and the upper 

 extremity of the tarsus is feathered. 



In their habits the Accentors seem to me more nearly to resemble the Tits 

 than the Thrushes. Not only do their quick jerk}- movements and acrobatic actions 

 remind one of the former ; but, like the Tits, they are largely seed-eaters. 



The Thrushes of Great Britain are represented by eight genera: Turd us 

 (Thrushes so-called) ; Monticola (Rock-Thrushes) ; Saxico/a (Wheatears) ; Pratincola 

 (Chats) ; Rutidlla (Redstarts) ; Cyancatla (Blue-throats) ; Erithacns (Redbreasts) ; 

 and Da alias (Nightingales). 



The more typical Thrushes are the largest members of the Sub- family ; they 

 are bold, handsome, strongly-built birds, with a vigorous direct flight, at times 

 somewhat sinuous but general!}" in a straight line. On the earth they proceed, 

 either by running for short stages, with the head depressed and neck somewhat 

 extended (but, at the end of each stage, assuming an erect and attentive posture, 

 sometimes with a simultaneous elevation of the tail) ; or, if in a hurry, they clear 

 the ground by long hops. Some of these are admirable songsters, and consequently 

 are greatly sought for as cage-birds. 



Excepting in very severe weather, Thrushes are very shy of entering traps ; 

 they also show considerable cunning in upsetting some forms of net-traps, especially 

 that known to bird-catchers as the 'Caravan': indeed it is rare to find any but 

 birds of the year caught by this ingenious contrivance. This fact is perhaps rather 

 an advantage than otherwise to the trapper, for young birds not only become more 

 rapidly reconciled to captivity, but naturally last longer, as song-birds, than those 

 which have spent several years of their lives in freedom. 



All the typical Thrushes build open cup-shaped nests, the walls of which are 

 strongly built, usually with a lining of mud, clay, or cow-dung, and in most cases 

 with a thick outer lining concealing the mud : the eggs usually number from four 

 to six and, more frequently than not, are of some shade of green marked with 

 some shade of brown. 



A. G. BUTLER. 



