. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE THRUSH. 3Z1 veiy favourite locality. It is a large, rough, but carefully-constructed habita- tion, being made externally of grass-stems and roots, plastered on the interior with a rather thick lining of coarse mud, which, when thoroughly dried, forms a kind of rude earthenware cup. A lining of fine grass is placed within the earthen cup, and upon this lining the five eggs are laid These eggs are of a light greyish blue ground colour, splashed, spotted and freckled over their entire surface with brown of various shades and intensity. The colouring of
. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE THRUSH. 3Z1 veiy favourite locality. It is a large, rough, but carefully-constructed habita- tion, being made externally of grass-stems and roots, plastered on the interior with a rather thick lining of coarse mud, which, when thoroughly dried, forms a kind of rude earthenware cup. A lining of fine grass is placed within the earthen cup, and upon this lining the five eggs are laid These eggs are of a light greyish blue ground colour, splashed, spotted and freckled over their entire surface with brown of various shades and intensity. The colouring of these eggs is extremely variable, even those of a single nest being very different in their appearance. The Blackbird is very courageous in defence of its nest, and will attack almost any animal that threatens the security of its home. On one occasion a prowling cat was forced to retreat ignominiously from the united assaults of two Blackbirds near whose domicile she had ventured. The well-known Song Thrush, or Throstle as it is sometimes called, bears a deservedly high rank among our British birds of song. It is plentifully found in most parts of England, and favours us with its vocal efforts throughout a consider- able portion of the year. The song of the Thrush is peculiarly rich, mellow, and sustained, and is remarkable for the fuU purity of its intonation and the variety of its notes. The Thrush begins to sing as soon as incubation commences, and continues its song from the beginning of the spring until the middle of autumn. In many cases the bird sings to a very late period of the year, and has been heard in the months of November and December. The food of the Thrush is mostly of an animal character, and consists largely of worms, snails, slugs, and similar creatures. In eating snails it is very dexterous, taking them in its bill, battering them against a stone until the shells are entirely crushed, and then swallowing the inclosed mollusc. When a Thrush has found a ston
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
