APRIL. 75 



thrush, above all things, likes to place its nest 

 by the side of a young fir-tree in a plantation. 

 In young larch and spruce woods they may be 

 found by hundreds ; the nest uncommonly deep, 

 lined only with mud, or mud and cow-dung. 

 Its eggs are of a bright sea-green, with large 

 circular black spots. They are very beau- 

 tiful. 



In the woods the nest of the jay may be 

 found, in the lower trees, particularly the wild- 

 ing, a large nest of moss, with eggs coloured 

 like those of the missel- thrush. The wood- 

 pigeon builds on lofty fir-trees, or trees covered 

 with ivy. The nest is a mere layer of sticks, 

 through which the two white eggs may be often 

 seen from the ground. The hawk chooses the 

 tops of the loftiest trees ; and the magpie's nest 

 may be seen in early spring in the tops of the 

 leafless trees, a large cone of thorns, which is 

 daubed internally with mud and lined with fine 

 fibrous roots. It sometimes also builds in tall 

 hawthorn hedges. Wherever it be, wild or 

 tame, it. is the monkey of birds, full of mischief 

 and mimickry. A gentleman told me, that one 

 he kept having stolen various articles was 

 watched by him narrowly; and at length was 

 seen by him busy in the garden gathering peb- 

 bles, and with much solemnity and a studied air 

 dropping them into a hole about eighteen inches 



