VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF LEICESTERSHIRE. 333 
even in gardens close to or within the town of Leicester. A nest, 
which I found in May, 1884, built in the fork of a spruce-fir 
close to the high road in the village of Aylestone, contained birds 
fully fledged. Both parents came from a distance on hearing 
the cries of the young as they endeavoured to escape, and for 
several minutes dashed around our heads and settled at our feet, 
trying to entice the young birds to a place of security. The 
Missel Thrush is Semi-gregarious in winter, feeding with others 
of the Turdide, though, as Mr. Ingram writes, this bird is 
“not gregarious like Fieldfares, but consorting in families.” 
Harley says it commences its song towards the early part of 
December, yet I think it is most frequently heard towards the 
end of January and in February. This year I heard it singing 
early in the morning of February 3rd. In 1883 Macaulay 
reported it singing on Feb. 19th. Mr. H. 8. Davenport gave me 
the following interesting note:—Two Missel Thrushes—call 
them A and B—built nests at the same time in low trees within 
six yards of each other, opposite the hall-door at Ashlands, in 
May, 1883, and successfully reared their broods. A few days 
later both birds returned to B’s nest, in which they deposited 
nine eggs (I took four away), and on these A commenced to sit ; 
meanwhile B constructed another nest a short distance off, and 
both birds reared their second broods in safety. In the first 
instance the eggs in both nests presented distinctive features.” 
The following year he wrote on March 25th :— « Yesterday 
morning I found a Missel Thrush’s nest close to the same spot, 
containing seven eggs, all fresh, the old bird on the nest. Of the 
Seven, four were of one size and shape, and three another, and 
both lots corresponded exactly with the eggs taken last year. 
Do you suppose that there is one cock and two hens? JI 
compared the eggs found yesterday with those (one of each) I 
took last year, and they are fac-similes.” 
Turdus musicus, Linn. Song Thrush.—Resident and common ; 
breeding in gardens on the verge of the town. During the mild 
winter of 1884 I heard a Thrush singing at Aylestone on Jan. 2nd; 
Mr. Macaulay heard one in full Song at Kibworth on Jan. 5th, 
1882, and also on Christmas-day, 1883; he also heard Thrushes 
singing during the night of Feb. 27th, 1885,—a circumstance 
which I myself remarked on F ebruary 20th, 1867. Mr. Macaulay 
has found a nest coutaining the abnormal number of seven eggs. 
