WATERTIGHT NESTS 85 



notes, I should still have thought that the singer 

 was actually a Nightingale. 



Sometimes I have heard the Blackbird's rattling 

 cry of alarm almost at midnight. 



A favourite place for their nesting site is on the 

 ground, the bank of a stream being preferred ; and 

 when built thus the nest is either made in a slight 

 hollow, or supported by nettles or other plants. 

 I once saw one leave its nest on being scared by 

 my intrusion, fly into the stream and perch on 

 some stones about an inch below the water, 

 remaining for some time there to watch my 

 movements. 



Another early breeder is the Song-Thrush, and 

 long before the leaves appear, their nests may be 

 seen in conspicuous positions in the hedges, con- 

 taining prettily marked blue eggs. Their nest is 

 made so watertight that the old nests will some- 

 times be seen actually holding water. Although 

 the Song-Thrush is a fairly close sitter, I have 

 never been able to obtain a photograph of one on 

 its nest ; I have tried all sorts of likely devices to 

 get a picture of the sitting bird, but they seem to 

 be very shy of anything strange near them at such 

 a time. 



In winter, and at other times of the year, the 

 Thrush resorts to gardens, searching well in the 



