THE SONG-TIIRUSII. 219 



site. This structure, ho^yevcr, was removed like the former ones ; and on 

 the evening of the following day a fourth nest was there, and the bird upon it, 

 putting the finishing touches ; and an egg was laid the following day ; for I 

 could not find it in my heart to remove this their fourth piece of handi- 

 work. I may add that all the nests were excellently made." 



The eggs of the Song-Thrush are four or five in number, and may 

 readily be distinguished from those of any other species of British bird. 

 They are of a beautiful clear greenish blue, marked with small spots of a 

 deep rich brown approaching to black. Eggs of this bird vary considerably, 

 both in size and markings. Many eggs (doubtless the production of the 

 older birds) are exceptionally large ; others more resemble the Redwing's 

 in size. Some eggs (though these are rare) are spotless ; others are very 

 richly spotted and blotched with reddish brown and various tints of purplish 

 grey. Eggs that are boldly blotched never have the colouring-matter so 

 intense as those on which the markings are small. They vary in length 

 from 1'16 to "95 inch, and from '9 to "7 inch in breadth. 



The Song-Thrush is a very close sitter, often remaining upon her charge 

 until touched by the hand of some prying naturalist. Her conduct when 

 disturbed from the nest is similar to that of the ilissel-Tlirush ; her 

 harsh cries and active motions, with those of her mate, awaken the 

 silent woods, and speak most plainly of the anxiety of the birds for their 

 treasure. Both birds sit upon the eggs and young, and tend their young 

 for a short time after they have left the nest. The Song-Thrush rears two, 

 and occasionally three, broods in the year, a fresh nest in all cases being 

 built for the purpose. 



The general colour of the Song-Thrush's plumage is olive-brown 

 above, the wing-coverts tipped with rich buff; the under plumage is 

 whitish, with a fulvous tinge on the breast and sides, which, in addition to 

 the ear-coverts, cheeks, fore neck, chest, and flanks, are spotted M'ith black ; 

 bill dark brown, paler at the base of the under mandible; legs pale; irides 

 brown. The sexes are alike ; but the nesting birds are mottled all over the 

 upper surface with ochraceous buff; yet after the first moult they are like 

 their parents. The abrasion which takes place during winter and spring 

 causes the upper parts to be slightly greyer, much of the yellowish buff on the 

 breast and flanks disappears, and the spots on the underparts become smaller. 



The nearest relation of the Song-Thrush is Pere David's Thrush (Turdus 

 auritii.s), inhabiting Northern and Western China. 



This species appears not to be a migratory bird ; and probably from 

 this cause its wings have become rounder; the second primary, instead 

 of being intermediate in length between the fourth and fifth, is very little 

 longer than the seventh. The colours are darker and richer, and the spots 

 more developed. It differs also in the colour of its eggs : Prjevalsky, the 

 great Central-Asian traveller, found it breeding in North China, and 

 states that its eggs are always unspotted blue. 



