THE ROCK-THRUSH. 

 Monticola saxatilis (Linnaeus). 

 Plate 2. 



The first British example of the Rock-Thrush was obtained in Hertfordshire in 

 May 1843, two or three more have since been taken. It is a native of Southern 

 and Central Europe, North-west Africa, and Asia Minor, ranging across Asia to 

 Northern China, while it migrates southwards in winter. 



The nest, built of dead grasses and roots, with a lining of finer grasses and 

 rootlets, sometimes of hair and feathers, is placed in a hole or cranny in an old wall 

 or under a fallen rock. 



Seebohm writes {British Birds, p. 284) : " The eggs of the Rock-Thrush are four 

 or five in number, of the same beautiful bluish-green as those of the Song-Thrush, 

 but slightly paler and rounder ; indeed they are almost intermediate between a 

 Song-Thrush's and a Starling's. The markings are confined to a very few faint 

 light-brown specks, usually on the larger end ; but the eggs are very often spotless." 



The female is mottled brown, lighter on the underparts, which are whitish or 

 buff, marked with broken crescent-shaped lines of brown. 



