THE TRUE THRUSHES. 
269 
of the bird, it is one of the first to succumb in winter, if 
snow covers the ground for any length of time. Numbers 
perish in severe winters, and the bird is then forced to seek for 
berries in every place it can, and may then be found frequent- 
ing the gardens in the middle of the towns, while it is also 
driven in its distress to seek for food with the Song -1 hrushes 
and Starlings at the hands of the bird-protectors. « e have 
often seen Mistle-Thrushes feeding in our garden on the bar- 
ley-meal which is daily provided for the starving birds in hard 
winters. 
From its habit of singing from the top of a tree in boisterous 
weather, the bird has got the name of “ Storm-cock, and it 
sings throughout the winter. The song is somewhat monoton- 
ous, but the notes are mellow, and may be compared to those 
of the Ring-Ouzel. 
Nest , A. somewhat rough structure outside, composed of 
arass and moss, with pieces of wood, then lined with mud or 
day, and neatly finished with finer grass inside. It is seldom 
found in evergreens, but is often discovered m old fruit or thorn- 
trees, where it is generally concealed by the decoration of 
lichens which the birds add to the outside of the nest, there y 
rendering it indistinguishable from the lichen-covered boughs. 
It is sometimes built at a great height from the ground. 
— Four or five in number. Ground-colour stone- grey 
or clay-colour, spotted and blotched with reddish-brown, 
generally distributed over the eggs, sometimes inclining o 
purplish-brown or black. The underlying spots are distinct, 
and of a light brown or dull grey colour. Occasionally the 
ground-colour is creamy-buff, the spotting being the same. 
Axis, i-i 5 1-35 inch ; diam., 0-85-0-90 1 lie shape of the eggs 
varies considerably, some being rounded and others very long. 
THE FIELDFARE. TUEDUS PILARIS. 
Turdus pilaris , Linn., Syst. Nat., i., p. 29 1 ( T 7^6) , Mac B ., 
Br. B., ii., p. 105 (1839); Dresser, L. Lur., 11., P- i+L 
pis. 4 5 (1870); Newt. ed. Yarr, 1, p. 272 (1872); 
Seeb./Cat. B. Brit. Mus., v., p. 205 (1881); id. Br B , 1., 
p. 228 (1883) ; B. O. U. List Br. B., p. 2 (1883) ; Ldforb 
Col. Fig. Br. B., pt. i. (1885) ; Saunders, Man , p. 7 (1889). 
