266 Country Rambles, 



present instance is the perseverance, that if in 

 endeavouring to raise a brood it is foiled by one 

 of its many enemies, the thrush almost invariably 

 follows that good old rule, "try again." 



THE MISSEL THRUSH (Turdus visrivorus), iii., 124. 

 Common, breeding freely and very early, and building 

 a nest similar to that of the song-thrush, but in 

 rather slovenly fashion, and usually very conspicu- 

 ous, being placed in the forks of the branches of 

 trees. Any odd stuff is used for it, as pieces of 

 torn-up newspaper, bits of old flannel, stray cotton- 

 wool, old ribbon, &c. 



THE BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula), iii., 131. 



Common everywhere, restless and vigilant, breeding 

 freely, known to every one, and a great plague to 

 gardeners. Blackbirds, however, consume so many 

 snails, that in the matter of spoiled fruit we can 

 quite afford to be lenient. 



THE HEDGE SPARROW, OR DUNNOCK (Accentor modularis), 



iii-, 135- 



Common, and especially attached to gardens. Begins 

 to sing towards dusk, never any sooner; then mounts 

 to the highest twig it can find near its nest, and is 

 tuneful to the highest degree, saying, as well as a 

 bird can, "Home, home, sweet, sweet home, my 

 day's work is done, like yours; good night, all's 

 well." A more exquisitely beautiful and immaculate 



