PERCHING BIRDS. 105 



expect the assistance of the other, and come to 

 meet it on its approach. This proceeding was 

 continued for some days ; but after a time we 

 missed the foster-bird, which probably died, or 

 by reason of its weakness met with some fatal 

 accident." 



Thrushes and blackbirds are indefatigable 

 destroyers of snails, which they hunt out from 

 their winter retreats under the hedges and walls, 

 where they nestle by hundreds. So industriously 

 is this search carried on, that the hedgerow is 

 marked by a line of broken shells, as the birds 

 bring them out from their holes, and batter the 

 shells to pieces. The adroitness with which 

 they break shells against a stone is well known, 

 A favourite stone will occasionally be seen in a 

 wood surrounded by the refuse shells, scattered 

 around in greater or less quantities, for several 

 feet. A tame thrush has been known to eat house- 

 flies with avidity, and the earnestness which he 

 exhibited while a person was feeding him with 

 them was truly amusing. 



The EEDWIXG and FIELDFARE are but visitants 

 here. The former is the smallest of the British 

 thrushes. It considerably resembles the common 

 thrush, and its notes are similar. It comes to our 

 shores about September, arriving in flocks, and 

 mingling, readily, with the fieldfare. Both these 



