210 THRUSHES. 



has been corroborated by the observations of a 

 naturalist, who, on the shores of the Hebrides, on 

 the western coast of Scotland, found small heaps of 

 shells belonging to two particular species, whelks and 

 periwinkles, always broken, but without the animal^ 

 although many appeared quite fresh. On frightening 

 away a Throstle, which he had seen engaged in 

 breaking something which it held in its beak against 

 a stone, he found one of the small heaps of whelks, 

 among which was a fresh one, newly broken, and 

 containing the animal. As the shell of the whelk 

 and periwinkle is much harder than that of the 

 common snail, it was a matter of considerable sur- 

 prise how so tender an instrument as the beak of a 

 Thrush could accomplish it, but we see in the above 

 case that the bird was instinctively taught to avail 

 itself of a power which accident placed within its 

 reach. 



Here we have a curious instance of a Thrush's 

 confidence in man : but a more, singular instance, 

 considering the nearness of the parties concerned, 

 fell under our observation a season or two ago : 

 namely, a Blackbird's nest on the ground, in a tuft 

 of grass or rushes close to the seat of a rabbit, the 

 tail, in fact, of the rabbit, being in contact with 

 the nest. As the seat as well as the nest were 

 both occupied, these two companions must have sat 

 meditating together for many a day, in perfect peace 

 and good fellowship. We do not know whether the 

 Blackbird ever sings on its nest, which might have 

 been a very gratifying attraction to the rabbit ; but 

 the Thrush unquestionably sometimes does. Few 



