SONG THRUSH. 
17 
yet regained their spring leafing, it is frequently very con¬ 
spicuous. 
The usual materials for the construction of the nest are 
a few dry twigs, chiefly those of the birch-tree, interwoven 
with green moss and grass stalks, so as to form a frame of 
basket-work, very beautifully constructed : this is lined with 
a thin layer of cow-dung, which forms the interior of the 
nest, there being no after-lining of grass, as in the nests 
of the missel thrush and blackbird. This unlined nest is, 
nevertheless, warm and sheltered, on account of its depth, 
and the impervious nature of its lining. The nest of this 
species is remarkably light, when compared with the nests 
of our other indigenous species. Among some ordinary sized 
nests in our possession, one of the blackbird weighs six 
ounces, whilst a nest of this species, on account of the su¬ 
perior lightness of the material used in lining, weighs only 
three. The missel thiTish’s nest is still heavier than that 
of the blackbird. Although so light and thin, the Song 
Thrushes’ nests possess a great tenacity, and power of resist¬ 
ing the influence of the winds and storms, so prevalent at the 
early period of the year at which they are constructed. The 
Rev. E. Moor says, in reference to this subject, “ A very 
violent hurricane of wind occurred this afternoon, November 
the 29th, the most violent I ever witnessed: the whole day 
was boisterous, but the hour’s hurricane excessive. Several 
fir-trees, &c., were blown down on the lawn and other places 
of the farm. Several days after this storm I was at the Rev. 
W. Kirby’s house at Barham, and saw a Thrush’s nest 
standing firm on the branch of an elm-tree in his garden ; 
the nest was in an exposed place ; it had been there ever 
since the spring, and appeared in no way injured by the 
violence of the storm.” 
The Song Thrush, as before mentioned, breeds very early. 
By the beginning of April nests may be found containing 
