4 SONG-THRUSH. 
placed in the middle of a thick bush or among ivy, and not un- 
frequently in a moss-covered bank ; occasionally, but rarely, on 
level ground. The 4-6 eggs are of a shining greenish-blue, 
blotched with black or rusty-brown ; spotless varieties being not 
uncommon: measurements 1 in. by ‘78 in. The female sits very 
closely, and is assisted to some extent by the male in the task. of 
incubation, which lasts about a fortnight ; two and sometimes three 
broods being produced in the season, and the young, presumably of 
the first, aiding in rearing the second. I have known a pair of 
Thrushes take possession of a Blackbird’s nest, and hold it in 
despite of the owners. The much-admired song, characterized by 
a distinct repetition of its three or four component notes, may be 
heard on a warm bright day very early in the year, continues 
until the moulting season, and is often resumed in autumn ; it is 
frequently uttered on fine nights. The Song-Thrush also readily 
adopts the notes of other birds. For nine months of the year it 
feeds on wild berries, insects, worms, and snails, the shells of the 
latter being broken against some convenient stone; but when fruit 
is ripe, the bird varies its diet, and in the vine-countries it feeds 
largely on grapes ; while on the sea-coast whelks and other “ shell- 
fish” are eaten, and this may have something to do with the dark 
colour of the Hebridean birds. Migration takes place at night, 
when flocks of this species drop suddenly and almost perpendicularly 
into wooded places, where numbers are frequently snared for the 
table, especially in Belgium,.and also on Heligoland. It may be 
mentioned that although the Song-Thrush is called “ Mavis” in 
Scotland, yet the French Afauvis is the Redwing. Mr. J. H. 
Gurney informs me that Mr. Bilham of Cromer, kept a Song-Thrush 
alive about fifteen years. 
The adult male has the upper parts olive-brown, the wing-coverts 
with buff tips which form two bars ; under parts whitish, and tawny 
on the breast and sides, which, with the ear-coverts and cheeks, are 
streaked and spotted with dark brown ; axillaries and under wing 
golden-buff ; bill horn-brown, yellowish at lower base; legs pale 
brown. Length 9 in. ; wing 4°6 in. The female is rather smaller 
and paler on the under parts. The young before the first moult are 
mottled above with buff; afterwards like the parents, but more 
golden-tinted. Varieties with more or less white in their plumage 
are not uncommon. 
