244 THAT 



taken as a substitute. Their 

 tree nests are ingeniously patched 

 over with lichen, and made to 

 look as much as possible like 

 the tree. But their most fa- 

 vourite retreats are in brakes 

 of juniper. These bushes are 

 close, and from the spiny nature 

 of their leaves, they afford a 

 natural protection against many 

 intrusions, and the berries afford 

 a supply of food for the old birds 

 as well as the young. The eggs 

 are usually four or five, of blue 

 colour, with dusky spots. 



Most of the thrushes, during the breeding 

 season, utter a song grateful to the ear, while 

 some of them, at this time, utter notes clear 

 and deep toned, and possessing peculiar melody. 

 They also select some elevated spot, day after 

 day, to resume their music. The song thrush 

 generally takes its place upon the summit of 

 the most elevated tree in the wood, and there he 

 pours out his loud clear melody, which ceases 

 during mid-day, but is again commenced with 

 the declining sun. 



The blackbird, 9, another of the 

 thrush tribe, builds its nest, 401, 



9 



641. 



among low bushes and evergreens. 

 The nests are usually in close 

 concealment, and still further 

 protected by their resemblance 

 to the mossy trunks against which 

 they are built. The eggs are 



fs IT ; 



bluish green, with dull reddish 

 markings. The blackbirds of the 

 woodlands are exceedingly sh} 

 birds, and repair to their nests 

 and quit them so warily that 

 they do not betray the situation 

 of them. But some of the spe- 

 cies are fond of drawing near to 

 the habitations *of man. In 

 walking along green lanes, where 

 there are cottages and kitchen 

 gardens, blackbirds will be found 

 to be numerous. This is because 

 they find ample food in the snails 

 and slugs of the gardens. In 

 these situations they will often 

 make their nests in shrubs close to 

 places that are much frequented, 

 and the birds will show little 

 concern about the inspection of 

 their nests, if their eggs are not 

 actually meddled with. 



The blackbird delights in shrubberies and 

 low bushes, and, except when singing to its 

 mate, we seldom see it perched aloft. When 

 disturbed, he escapes by hopping, or a low 

 flight, sounding his alarm scream as he flies, 

 and when alighting, raises and expands his tail 

 in the air. Varieties of almost a pure white 

 occasionally occur, and from the marked con- 

 trast to the general colours, either in this state 

 or when much pied, are almost immediately 

 noticed ; they sometimes also appear of a cream 

 colour, and when either of this shade or pure 

 white, in the female, the differences in her 

 shades of colour are in a very slight variation 

 of tint. 



10 



642. 



The nightingale, 10, frequents 



