n6 THE BIRDS OF THE WOODS 



in Kashmir. In the north these birds nest in 'large colonies in the birch- 

 forests, but where there are few trees, or they have to nest on the ground, they 

 lose their gregarious habits. The nest is formed of twigs and grass, plastered 

 inside and out with mud, lined with grass, and coated externally with grass, 

 lichens, reindeer-moss, or whatever may be found near that will make it incon- 

 spicuous. The eggs are laid in May, but later in the north ; they vary greatly 

 in their markings, though the greenish blue ground-colour is rarely quite con- 

 cealed. 



The fieldfare derives its name of juniper-thrush from its partiality for juniper- 

 berries, which it prefers to other food, though, like other thrushes, it feeds, as a 

 rule, on fruits of all kinds, as well as on worms and insects. Nearly as large as 

 the missel-thrush, it is distinguished by the ashy grey head and lower part of 

 the back, its chestnut-brown shoulders, and the blackish tail, the feathers of 

 which are edged with grey, the outer ones being fringed with white at the tips 

 of their inner webs. 



The nightingale (Daulias luscinia) has its home on the skirts 

 of such woods as contain oaks, birches, elms, aspens, and other leafy 

 trees, not too close together, and adjoin a tall hedge or other strip of underwood. 

 Only exceptionally does it resort to dark pine-forests, since it seems to avoid places 

 in which there are no dry leaves, those of the oak being specially favoured. 

 The dry leaves among which it loves to skulk prevent the bird from being easily 

 perceptible by affording a background of the same general colour as its body, and, 

 by the rustling sound made by persons stepping on them, give warning of the 

 approach of an enemy. The nest is generally made of dead oak-leaves and grass, 

 with rootlets and usually a little horsehair, and is placed on or near the ground, 

 in which position it is also protected by the fallen leaves. It contains from 

 four to six eggs, which are of a pale olive-grey or olive-brown, the grey variety 

 being clouded or ringed with brown. The young birds are also protected by their 

 colour, and when they crouch in the leaves can scarcely be seen. They are dark 

 brownish grey above, mottled with dull yellow, and below are pale buff with 

 greyish brown bars ; their large wing- and tail-feathers are slightly darker than 

 those of the old birds, and the wing-coverts are tipped with buff. They leave the 

 nest before they are fully fledged to hop about on the ground, where they are fed by 

 their parents for a considerable time. If the sitting bird be frightened off, she 

 flutters slowly along on the dry leaves, thereby drawing the attention of the 

 intruder away from the nest ; but, notwithstanding all these protections and 

 precautions, the old birds often betray the whereabouts of their young by 

 incessant cries of alarm at the approach of an intruder. 



The nightingale eats various grubs and pupae, small butterflies, beetles, flies, 

 and other insects, and worms ; also fruit and berries, particularly those of the elder, 

 and is said to feed its young on small green caterpillars, ants, and spiders. It has 

 somewhat solemn ways, and moves with a certain consciousness, carrying its 

 wings loosely, and advancing in long hops over the ground, stopping every now 

 and then, raising its tail and looking thoughtfully around. Should it spy some 

 insect, it closely watches it for a few moments before pecking. Fluttering from 



