The Throstle, or Thrush, is one of the finest of the 
British song birds^ its melodious notes re-echoing through 
every wood and grove during the spring months, and if the 
weather be mild it often commences its song soon after 
Christmas ; is readily brought up by hand, but its note is 
too loud except in the open air. 
Like the Blackbird, this species often plasters its nest so 
compactly that if the season proves wet the young brood 
are often destroyed. The nest is composed of dry grass, 
green moss and fibres, plastered within with cow dung and 
clay mixt with pieces of decayed wood : the eggs are of a 
beautiful light blue with dark purple spots at the larger 
end ; about four or five in number. 
This species continues in this country throughout the 
year, and feeds on ivy, privit, haw, yew and other berries 
and seeds, also insects, worms and snails, these it breaks 
against a stone, and, as noticed of the Blackbird, generally 
has some favourite spot to which it resorts for this purpose. 
During severe weather they associate in flocks, and are 
frequently met with in company with Redwings and Field- 
fares. In various parts of the Continent the Throstle is 
migratory ; yet it braves the severity of winter in some of 
the Orkney Islands, 
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