VI. 



TURDIS MUSICUS. (linn.) 



Thrush, Throstle, Grey Bird, &c. 



The nest of the Thrush is composed of moss and dry grass, 

 with the addition of a few sticks, straw, and roots, cemented 

 together in the inside by a composition of clay and rotten 

 wood. With Mr. Jennings, I am much inclined to think, that 

 cow-dung is rarely if ever used ; he also excludes clay, and 

 says, " I am led to this conclusion by the lightness of the 

 nest ; the Blackbird's is much heavier, in consequence of 

 being clayed,'" This may be very easily accounted for. The 

 plaster used by the Blackbird is in much greater quantities, 

 and is of mud only, and is scarcely ever quite dry. That 

 used by the Thrush, on the other hand, is in small quantities, 

 is exposed to the atmosphere and the absorption of the rot- 

 ten wood, and becomes so perfectly hard and dry as to be 

 water-tight. I have known the bird deterred several days 

 from laying its eggs, in consequence of the nest being half 

 full of water. I this spring found some that had particles of 

 reeds and thistle-down in lieu of wood. 



The situations chosen to contain these materials are ex- 

 tremely variable. Thick bushes, evergreens, dead fences, tall 

 whins, brambles, wall-fruit trees, &c. In the latter, I have 

 seen one against a house, close under the window of the 

 second story. 



The Thrush breeds early in April, laying four, sometimes 

 five eggs, usually spotted with black ; rarely with reddish 

 brown, inclining to purple. Fig. 1. 



TURDUS MERULA. (unn.) 

 Blackbird. 



Time of incubation, and situation of its nest, similar to 

 the last. It is found sometimes very openly exposed. I 

 have met with it in thorn hedges, occasionally on the top of 



