58 THE NATURAL HISTORY 
the banks, bv the fide of flreams, and are very 
noify when difturbed ; their nefts are placed at 
the bottom of bufhes clofe to the ground, con. j 
ftrudfed very much like the Blackbird’s, arid then 
lay five eggs. 
They feed on berries, and infetfs, they are fond 
of ivy berries, and of grapes ; in F ranee, during the 
vintage, they get very fat, and their flefh is then 
rich, and juicy. They feed too upon fiiails, am 
are very dextrous in breaking their fhells on a 
ftone, to enable them to get at their contents. 
The REED THRUSH. 
The plumage on the upper part of the body is of a red 
difh brown, beneatli of a dingy white; the wing feat hen 
edged with a reddifh brown. 
It inhabits Europe, particularly the marfliy 
parts, where reeds grow, and climbs up them in 
the fame manner as Woodpeckers climb trees ; it 
builds its neft fufpended from three reeds, fatten- 
ed together, or on mofiy hillocks amongft the reeds 
and rufhes. The male fings continually, vvhilil 
the female fits; from which it has been called bj 
fume the Water Nightingale. 
The Chanting Thrush is found in the 
foutheru provinces of China ; it is there called the 
Nightingale, 
