318 BIRDS IN LONDON 



to the number of our species is to procure the 

 eggs of suitable wild birds, to be hatched in the 

 nests of the park birds. Thus, the missel-thrush 

 might easily be got back by placing its eggs in 

 the nests of blackbirds and thrushes. The large 

 size and handsome plumage of the missel-thrush, 

 or storm-cock, his dashing motions and loud 

 winter song, would make him one of our most 

 attractive birds ; and that he is well able to 

 thrive in London we have already seen. 



Another bird which no one is ever tired of 

 seeing and hearing, and would be a great ac- 

 quisition, is the nuthatch ; this species, although 

 not uncommon on the wooded borders of London 

 and in some of the outlying parks, would no 

 doubt have to be introduced by man. The 

 nuthatch is a difficult bird to manage, on account 

 of its violent temper and impatience of confine- 

 ment ; but it is possible that the starling, which, 

 like the nuthatch, breeds in hollow trees, and 

 feeds its young on much the same kind of food, 

 might make a suitable foster-parent. At all 

 events, the experiment is worth trying. It 

 should be easy to procure its eggs, as the bird 

 is very common in many well-timbered parks 

 and open oak woods within a short distance of 



