134 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



THKUSH. 



Case 158. 



This well-known songster is widely dispersed over the 

 British Islands, the nature of the country, however, 

 being less suited to its" habits in the north ; it is not so 

 abundant in the wild districts of the Highlands. 



Its neatly-built nest is placed in a variety of situ- 

 ations, at one time high in the branches of some lofty 

 tree, at another among the ivy and other creeping 

 plants on some overhanging bank, or even on the 

 ground itself ; furze-bushes, faggot-stacks, piles of old 

 rubbish, ruined buildings, and indeed almost any 

 site in which a nest could possibly be fixed, being 

 occasionally resorted to. 



By far the greater number of the Thrushes that 

 make their appearance on the south coast during snow 

 and frost, appear to feel the effects of the severe 

 weather more readily than any other species, being 

 frequently found moping, half- starved, under banks 

 and hedges, while Blackbirds and Eedwings are able to 

 retain their usual condition. 



I have on several occasions noticed Thrushes very 

 abundant on the Bass Rock during autumn, being 

 probably attracted to the spot by the number of snails 

 among the old ruins. 



Thrushes and Blackbirds, when feeding on the 

 berries of the hawthorn in the winter, swallow them 

 whole, and shortly afterwards cast up the stones. 



The case is copied from a sketch taken in an old 

 sawpit in the neighbourhood of Brighton. 



The specimens were obtained at Portslade, in 

 Sussex, in May, 1874. 



