250 VEETEBRATBB. 



largest songster of tihe European birds. He remains with us the 

 whole of the ypiir, and he is one of three birds which charn: us 

 ^•ith their melody during the dreary months of winter, when the 



throstle and lark are silent, and 

 all the migratory birds have left 

 us, to sojourn in warmer cli- 

 mates. He appears to be gre- 

 garious in the months of August 

 and September." 



It is very fond of the her 

 ries of the misseltoe, but when 

 they fail it turns its attention to those of the mountain ash, which 

 are almost certain to attract this beautiful and powerful songster. 

 In the summer it devours all kinds of garden fruita, especially 

 cherries and raspberries. 



During the breeding season it is very pugnacious, attacking 

 and driving away not only small birds, but the crow, the magpie, 

 or even a prowling cat. The nest is very large, always built in a 

 tree, and containing about five reddish spotted eggs. The length 

 of the bird is eleven inches. 



The Sonq-Thrdsh, Throstle, or Mavis, is deservedly con- 

 pidered one of the best of the English singing birds. Its pow- 

 erful and rich notes may be heard even during the month of 

 January, when most of the other singing birds are either silent, 

 or have departed. Its nest is built almost before any other bii-d 

 has commenced, and may often be seen conspicuously placed in a 

 bush, some time before the leaves have begun to sprout. In order 

 to defend the callow young from the cold winds of the season 

 when they are hatched, the nest is more substantial than birds aro 

 accustomed to build, being thickly plastered within with a coating 

 of mud, eflFectually keeping out the chilly blasts. 



The Blackbird is another delightful English songster, 

 whose jetty hue and orange-tawny bill are too well known to need 

 description. It is a very shy bird, and if disturbed in a hedge, 

 has a habit of darting through it, and then escaping on the other 

 side, uttering a sharp cry of alarm. The habits of this bird arc 



