Common Wild Birds of the Scarborough Dixtrict. 259 



daily until May -3tli, when it ceases, not to be resumed again until scnne 

 bright mid- winter day. 



The large nest, usually of grass and perhaps some moss, I have found 

 on occasion to contain many other substances, the full list being as follows ; 

 grass, dead or green, moss, lichen, bark, sticks, leaves, dead or living, 

 roots, wool, feathers, scraps of newspaper, string and rags. Almost 

 invariably placed in the strong fork of a fair-sized tree, the height varying 

 from four to forty feet I have also found it, but very rarely, in a hedge. 

 April 5th is my earliest date for finding eggs. Four is the number found 

 in 78% of the nests examined after the bird had commenced sitting. The 

 other Z2% of nests contained Jive eggs. I have never found one containing 

 more. In 28% of Song-thrush's nests and 37% of the Blackbird's nests 

 examined the number of eggs has been five. The average weight of an 

 egg of this bird is -31 oz. 



I have observed that in spring time the Mistletoe-thrush is more 

 addicted to flying about in pairs than is any other member of the thrush 

 tribe. 



All who have studied any wild animals must have noticed how different 

 even xmder the same circumstances may be the behaviour of members of 

 the same species ; and here are two cases. A Mistle-thrush sitting upon 

 her nest on a broken spruce-fir branch allowed me to climb the tree and 

 stroke her back with my hand before she left the nest. Another bird, 

 whose nest contained but two eggs, flew at me again and again most 

 menacingly when I approached her possessions. 



*The Song Thrush (Turdiis m-iisicus L.). Known to the natives here 

 as the throstle, is resident and common enough nearly all through the 

 year, although there are times when this and some other resident birds 

 may be sought in vain. In the winter months, when it is less common 

 than the blackbird, the Song Thrush leaves the woods and seeks more 

 open country, occasionally feeding upon haws. Individual birds of this 

 species may on rare occasions be heard singing on any mild autumn or 

 winter's day. As spring approaches the number of singing birds steadily 

 increases, but few may be heard after the end of June. A very free 

 singer its voice may be heard from 2-9 a.m. until 9-30 p.m., often 

 after stars have begun to shine. In early summer days, on bush or tall 

 tree tops. Once I saw one singing on the roof of a tall town house. The 

 Song Thrush uses a greater variety of nest materials than any bird that 

 I know. Here is a list of them : grass in abundance ; and in less quantity, 

 moss, twigs, dead fern, dead herbage, ivy stems, rushes, wool, strips of 

 bark,* roots, dead leaves, straw, string and feathers. Inside, the smooth, 

 basin-like hollow is usually lined with rotten wood. The four eggs that 

 usually make a clutch weigh together a trifle under one ounce, actually 

 •94 oz. Rarely much concealed, the nest, usually placed in a hedge, bush 

 or low tree, may not infrequently be found on a rock ledge in cliff or 

 quarry. I have seen one in a garden tool-shed. Another that I found in 

 a spruce fir, was so badly placed that all but one of the callow young had 

 fallen out and died. I cannot really say that of the several hundred nests 

 that I have observed any one of them was actually on the ground ; the 

 only doubtful case was one found in a wood and this mav have been placed 

 there by wood cutters who, working near, had disturbed and placed it on 

 the level for safety. Eighteen feet above ground in a tree is the greatest 

 height at which I have found one built. The Song Thrush moves on the 

 ground by hopping and running. Often one movement is alternated with 

 the other. 



The Redwing [Turdns iliacus). Locally called the felfer or small 

 felfer. This bird is only known here as a winter visitor and just as the 

 winter of 1906-7 was the severest that I have known here, so it was also 

 our biggest redwing winter. Hundreds must have died in the town alone, 

 and thousands in the immediate neighbourhood. They were in every 

 garden and they haunted the harbour here and also at Bridlington, feeding 



1918 Aug. 1, 



