THE yOUNG NATURALIST. 



351 



The Young when they leave the nest 

 have the dark parts varied with lighter 

 colour, as in the Missel Thrush, but not so 

 distinct. 



Varieties. — Many white and cream- 

 coloured ones are recorded. A young bird 

 in my own collection is pure white. Two 

 others are recorded by Mr. Gunn (Nat. I. 

 pp. 145 and 170). Another is reported on 

 the same page, having " crown of head, 

 back, and upper surface, light reddish 

 brown, under parts white, the breast with 

 spots of a pale redddish brown, bill and 

 legs yellow." Another, reported in the 

 same place, had the upper parts pale yellow- 

 ish brown, the feathers on the back and 

 wings edged with yellowish ; throat and 

 breast yellowish, spotted with light brown ; 

 abdomen white." Another is reported by 

 the same gentleman, and in the same maga- 

 zine (Vol. I. p. 207), having the " upper 

 parts yellowish brown, margins of the 

 feathers darker ; throat white ; breast and 

 sides very pale yellow ; margins of feathers 

 darker; abdomen white." A curious variety 

 is figured upon the plate, from Mr. Bond's 

 collection. 



Note. — This bird is one of our richest 

 songsters, beginning generally in February. 

 Its notes are loud, clear, and flute-like, 

 usually a set of from four to six notes are 

 run over three or four Limes, and then varied 

 in a new arrangement, which are again run 

 over several times, then varied again. 



Flight. — Strong, performed by quick 

 flappings of the wings. 



Migration. — Resident. Their num- 

 bers, however, seem to be augmented on 

 the approach of winter, probably by arrivals 

 from the north, which depart again before 

 the breeding season. 



Food. — Berries, fruit, insects, worms, 

 and snails. The shells of the latter arc 

 broken against a stone selected by the bird 

 for that purpose. 



In Confinement this bird is a great 

 favourite on account of its beautiful song. 

 It may easily be reared from the nest upon 

 bread and milk. After five or six weeks it 

 should be gradually accustomed to bread 

 crumbs and lean beef. When older it may 

 be fed upon barley meal made into paste 

 with milk and water, with occasional bits 

 of lean meat, hard-boiled egg, snails, or 

 worms. The cage should be large and have 

 plenty of coarse sand and water for drinking 

 and bathing. 



Habitat. — Common throughout the 

 British Islands, frequenting gardens, woods, 

 plantations, and shrubberies. It, however, 

 is said not to occur in the Shetlands. 



Abroad it is found throughout Europe 

 and the western portion of Asia. Abundant 

 in some parts of Africa during the winter. 

 It has also lately been introduced into 

 Australia. 



Nest. — The nest is placed in a holly 

 or other bush generally about five or six 

 feet from the ground. Sometimes it is 

 placed at a greater elevation against the 

 side of a tree, and occasionally upon the 

 ledge of a rock, even sometimes upon the 

 ground. It is composed of dry grass and 

 moss, lined very smoothly inside with a 

 coating of mud and fibre of rotton wood or 

 cow dung. The nest is commenced early 

 in March or even sooner, and in fine weather 

 is completed within a week. 



Eggs. — From four to six eggs are laid, 

 blue-green, with a few largish black spots, 

 generally placed at the large end, but occa- 

 sionally at the smaller end. 



Varieties. — Sometimes the spots are 

 entirely absent ; they also vary much in 

 size. A curious shaped one (fig. 2) is figured 

 from Mr. C. S. Oregon's collection, and two 

 more from the same, marked in an unusual 

 maniur (figs. i-j). \ remarkable variation 

 is recorded (Zool. 187 ) having the ground 

 wliite with dark red spots. 



