128 BIRDS' NESTS. 



reddish white, spotted and sprinkled with ash 

 grey and brownish red. 



QUAIL. Perdix Coturnix. 



PLATE XXII. FIG. 2. 



THIS bird, like the last, builds a very slight 

 nest of dry grass in meadows and corn-fields. 

 The eggs are about ten, cream-coloured and 

 variously mottled, blotched or spotted with 

 reddish-brown. 



MISSEL-THRUSH. Turdm viscivorus. 



PLATE VIII. FIG. 4. 



DURING the greater portion of the year the 

 Missel-thrush is noted for its shyness. Its 

 harsh note, indeed, resembling the sound 

 caused by drawing one's finger along the teeth 

 of a comb, may frequently be heard from Sep- 

 tember to February, and as one draws near 

 the grove from which the sound proceeded, 

 the bird itself may often be observed making 

 off rapidly, and in a straight line, for some 

 other shelter ; but unless the weather be very 



