338 THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 
or silver-fir, the foundation for the nest is laid of 
birch twigs placed crossways in the forks of the 
branches ; having completed a secure and firm ground- 
work, the bird collects a quantity of flexible fibrous 
roots, which it intertwines, forming a complete 
basket-work, which it then lines with the finest roots 
and a little moss. Many ladies would be proud, 
could they, with all their ingenuity, manufacture a 
work-basket as neat and tasty as the nest of a bull- 
finch. 
The thrush claims to be associated with the work- 
ers in masonry. This bird commences its operations 
by laying a substantial foundation of moss, then 
forming a sort of cup composed of intertwined moss, 
grass-stems, wheat-straws, or roots, finishing the top 
in a thick hoop ; the artist then plasters the inside of 
the frame-work with small pieces of horse or cow 
dung, cementing them to the outer work with its 
saliva, and to add to the warmth of the nest, and the 
comfort of her callow offspring, which she brings 
forth amid the cold and storms of early spring, a 
layer of decayed wood, divided into short slips, is 
spread neatly over, and attached smoothly to the 
last coat, with the same cement of saliva. 
