14 THE BIRDS OF BERKS AND BUCKS. 



a second nest, also containing young birds : they were 

 all put in the same cage, and one of the older ones 

 belonging to the first brood fed the younger ones 

 every morning and evening regularly. I found a nest 

 of this species on a wooden bench some years ago : 

 they will often build in ivy, jessamine, and other 

 climbing plants ; indeed there are few places which 

 they will not in turn select. If the weather be mild 

 they will sing in February, and I once heard a Thrush 

 in full song on a bright day in January. 

 BLACKBIRD (Turdus Meruld). 



" The ouzel-cock, so black of hue, 

 With orange- tawny bill" ' 



is universally distributed in England, and Berkshire 

 and Buckinghamshire are alike favoured with the 

 presence of this noted songster. It is, indeed, one of 

 our commonest birds, and a most useful friend to the 

 farmer and gardener. Often have I hidden behind 

 a hedge, and watched a cunning old fellow take up 

 a snail in his bill, the next moment dash it with his 

 whole strength against a stone, and picking up the 

 body of the unfortunate householder thus rudely 

 ejected from his habitation, fly off in high spirits to 

 give his young this savoury meal. 



I have seen, at various times, many eggs of this 

 bird nearly blue, but none perfectly so. As has been 

 observed in the case of the Thrush, these light-coloured 



* Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, iii. I. 



