BiaDS. 



2oo 



largest of the spaiTow.kind, and maybe distinguished from nil 

 others of this class, as well by their size, which is well known, 

 as by their bills, which are a little bending at the point ; a small 

 notch near the end of the upper chap ; and the outmost toe ad- 



tliP propag'ation of its species. Of all our winter visitants, it is the latest 

 in its arrival, seldom reac-liincr these shores before the latter part of Novcin. 

 ber. As its first appearance is so much later than that of its fellows in 

 migration, so also is its departure in the spring ; flocks of these birds re. 

 mainlng on our coasts iis late as the latter part of May, or the first week 

 of June. During its abode with us, it continues in large flocks, and, as 

 long as the weather remains mild, frequents the meadow and pasture 

 grounds, feeding upon slugs, worms, and the larva; of insects. In severe 

 frosts, and when the ground is covered with snow, it resorts to the hedges, 

 and to small plantations, \vhcre it subsists upon the berries of the liaw. 

 thorn, holly, mountain-;ish, and some others. It is a bird of shy disposition, 

 and, xmless pressed by hunger, and reduced by want, will not allow of any 

 near approach to it. Highly as the flesh of the field-fare was prized by the 

 Konians, it does not exceed in flavour that of the raisletoe thrush, and the 

 others of its tribe, possessing also a bitterness from which some of them are 

 free. This bird builds in pine or fir trees, in Norway, Sweden, Lapland, 

 and other Northern countries, laying from three to five eggs, of a pale 

 bluish.green colour, spotted with reddish-brown. 



Song-thrush or Mavis. — This well known songster, whose sweetly varia- 

 ble notes enliven our groves, from the commencement of spring to the 

 close of summer, is indigenous in Britain, as the greater part of those bred 

 in the island remain stationary through the whole year. But these our na- 

 tive birds are augmented by the visits of vast flocks, in the course of their 

 autumnal journey from the more northern countries of Europe. These last 

 generally make their appearance before the red-wing and field-fare, and, 

 after recruiting their strength for a few days, move onward in a southerly 

 direction. Like many of our other autumnal visitants, they arrive with a 

 north, or north-east wind, plainly indicating the countries from whence 

 they hold their progress. The thrushes which remain with us, never asso- 

 ciate in flocks during tlie winter, like the two above-mentioned species, but 

 continue dispersed throughout the country, haunting the thickets and 

 hedges, where they find a supply of such berries as form their principal 

 food, during the inclement season of the year. Upon the approach of very 

 severe frosts, or falls of snow, they move from the interior of the country 

 towards the sea-coast, where the influence of the sea-breeze, soon dissolving 

 the snow, exposes a portion of ground sufficient to furnish them with a 

 scanty subsistence. If the season should prove temperate, the male bird 

 begins to pour forth his love-notes as early as the latter part of January, or 

 the beginning of the month following. In March the pair commence nidifi- 

 cation, and the first brood flifs about the month of May. 



The song-thrush is remarkable for the ingenuity of its nests. The in. 

 terior of these nests is about the form and size of a large breakfast tea-cup, 

 being as uniformly rounded, and though not polished, almost as smooth. 

 For this little cup the parent birds lay a ma^isive foundation of moss, chiefly 

 the proliferous and the fern-leaved feather moss (.Ht/pnum proUferum and 



