102 POPULAR HISTORY OF BIRDS. 
birds. We have several species of this family in the British 
Islands^ such as the freckled-breasted Mavis^ or Song-Thrush 
{Turdus musicus). one of the sweetest of our songsters, whose 
nest and eggs are often the prey of the prowling schoolboy 
in the month of April; the Blackbird {Turdus merula), 
which often exposes its nest, as if in exuberance of familia- 
rity, — a nest curious for the mud with w^hich it is plastered; 
the Eing-Ouzel [Turdus torquatus), so partial to the more 
northerly parts of our island ; the large Missel Thrush, which 
pours its peculiarly wild, full note from the top of some 
high tree,^^ and becoming tame in spring, builds its nest in 
fruit-trees, sure of protection. These species build solitarily, 
and habitually reside here ; and we only allude to them as in- 
troductory to the mention of the Eedwing and Fieldfare, two 
other species, which leave these islands for Norway and 
Sweden, or other northern countries, to rear their young. 
Mr. Hewitson"^, who visited the boundless forest scenery, 
* His admirable work, had we been writing on British birds, would have 
supplied us with much valuable information ; it is stored with lively notices 
of the habits of birds, and contains certainly the best figures of eggs ever 
published. * British Oology : Coloured Illustrations of the Eggs of British 
Birds, accompanied with descriptions of the Eggs, Nests, etc.,' by William 
C. Hewitson. 2 vols. 8vo, London, 1846, See the new edition^ " Eggs of 
British Birds.'' 
