62 BIKDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



coverts the same ; quills dusky, narrowly edged with 

 dull white; secondaries and tertials inner web 

 dusky, outer web shot with reddish brown and 

 bluish grey; legs and toes dark brown; claws 

 black. 



The eggs are said to be much like those of the 

 Blackbird so much so, indeed, as to be easily 

 mistaken for them. 



SONG THRUSH, Turdus musicus. This is another 

 of our best-known and commonest birds, much 

 beloved by those who delight in listening to its 

 beautiful song; and, like most of its tribe, per- 

 secuted and hated by gardeners, with how much 

 reason we shall see presently. 



The Thrush is an early breeder, usually placing 

 its nest in some low bush, or against the side of 

 a hedge, and occasionally, but not often, on the 

 ground. A very remarkable place is mentioned in 

 the * Zoologist,' namely, the top of a beehive ; but 

 that nest seems very soon to have been deserted, as 

 may easily be imagined. It is a coarse structure of 

 hay, grass and roots, lined with clay. 



The food of the Thrush consists principally of 

 insects, worms and snails. The number of snails 

 devoured by these birds must be very great, to 

 judge by the number of snail-shells to be found 

 round any stone that the bird may have selected as 

 convenient for breaking the shells. I am rather 

 inclined to doubt the assertion that the bird con- 



