OUR THRUSHES, 101 



It is no light task to look after fruit, even when 

 it is all netted and pegged down ; for the thrush 

 will peck and scratch a hollow out and step under- 

 neath the bough ; where one has gone others will 

 follow, and work sad mischief. If a blackbird is 

 under the net, he yells out his frantic alarm as 

 usual : the thrush only clucks. In some gardens 

 from twenty to. thirty thrushes are often captured 

 during a day. As at this time they are first-rate 

 eating, they atone for their sins by making a dinner 

 now and then. It is only natural that they should 

 have fruit if they can get it ; but one thing I must 

 say, dear lover of birds though I am, if the fruit 

 were not protected and well watched, the blackbirds, 

 thrushes, and missel-thrushes would clear the lot. 

 It is a wonder where they all come from, directly 

 it is ripe, and some even before it is so ; they turn 

 up in numbers from all quarters. No more hunting 

 about the meadows and hedgerows for such common 

 things as worms and snails when there are these far 

 more tempting dainties about. It would never do 

 to fire into a tree or bush loaded with fruit ; so the 

 gun is not used, only netting. No doubt, poor 

 things, they think if they get in they can get out, 



