27 



9 



and a half, but below the mouth four inches, the depth two and a half. In all the specimens 

 which I have examined the mouth of the inner cup is contracted and firmly woven. 



" The eggs are generally five, but vary from four to sis, of a regular or broad oval form, 

 bright bluish-green, with scattered spots of brownish black, of a roundish form, and more 

 numerous at the larger end. They vary considerably in size, the largest in my collection mea- 

 suring thirteen twelfths by nine and a half, the smallest eleven and a half by eight and a half 

 twelfths. They are deposited in the end of April, sometimes so early as the beginning of that 

 month, and sometimes not until May. The young I have found abroad from the 20th of April 

 to the middle of June. Another brood is generally reared in the season. 



" Mr. Weir, to whom the reader of these volumes is indebted for so many curious and 

 interesting observations relative to the habits of our native birds, has favoured me with the 

 following, having reference to the present species : — 



" ' Boghead, 16th December 1837. In Mr. Mudie's ' Feathered Tribes of the British Islands,' 

 a work published so recently as 1834, I was astonished at finding the following notification with 

 respect to this bird : — " When collecting food for their young, the birds carry it not in the bill, 

 but in the stomach." If in England the Thrushes carry food to their young in their stomachs, I 

 can affirm that in this neighbourhood they are not accustomed to do so. 



" ' At the distance of nine feet from a Thrush's nest, which was built in an old wall, I erected 

 a hut with some branches of spruce and Scotch fir, and took possession of it on the morning of 

 Thursday the 8th June 1837, at a quarter past one o'clock, for the purpose of making observa- 

 tions on the habits of these birds. At half-past two o'clock they commenced feeding their brood. 

 From that time until four o'clock they fed them fourteen times. From four to half-past five 

 o'clock they fed them twenty-two times. As one of the young birds was dressing its feathers, it 

 lost its balance, and fell on the ground. No sooner did the old ones perceive it than they set up 

 the most doleful lamentations. I replaced it in the nest. Having seen me return to my retreat r 

 they would not feed their young until I came out. I accordingly went home for my boy, who 

 after I had gone in again, carefully concealed the entrance. His departure attracted their notice ; 

 for, after having followed him to a considerable distance, they returned, and without suspicion 

 commenced their labour. From half-past five until seven o'clock they fed them twenty-four 

 times. From seven to eight o'clock they fed them sixteen times, and from eight to nine eleven 

 times. By this time I was so benumbed with cold, for it blew boisterously from the east, and 

 tired with remaining in the same posture, that had I not on the preceding evening made a reso- 

 lution to continue my task, as the birds were ripe, I should in all probability have relinquished it. 

 I was also annoyed by the visitation of Morpheus, who again and again closed my eyelids and 

 nearly lulled me into repose. Between nine and ten o'clock I kept them out of their nest, to see 

 if during the succeeding hour they would feed their young ones more frequently. This, however, 

 appeared to make but little difference. From ten to eleven o'clock they fed them ten times, and 

 from one to two o'clock eleven times. From two to three o'clock they fed them eight times, and 

 from three to four o'clock six times. From four to five o'clock they fed them five times, from 

 five to six o'clock six times, and from six to seven o'clock twelve times. From seven to eight 

 o'clock they fed them thirteen times, and from eight to half-past nine o'clock seventeen times. 



