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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign http://www.archive.org/details/britishsongbirdsOOwood BRITISH SONG BIRDS; BEING POPULAR DESCRIPTIONS AND ANECDOTES OF THE CHORISTERS OF THE GROVES. By NEVILLE WOOD, Esa. AUTHOR OF THE ORNITHOLOGIST’S TEXT-BOOK. LONDON: JOHN W. PARKER, WEST STRAND. MDCCCXXXVI. LONDON: LEIGHTON AND MuRPHY, PRINTERS, Johnson’s Court, Fleet Street. TO EDWARD BLYTH, OF TOOTING, SURREY, FOR HIS WELL-KNOWN TALENTS AS AN ORNITHOLOGIST, AND AS A TESTIMONY OF REGARD, This Volume iS INS\C BRIBED, BY HIS SINCERE FRIEND, THE AUTHOR. a Chreyiole, 24 Sep 41 Obssrlrolder, (1 eo eat : - wa ei . At - - tov): BT re wae, in sf (eee aM i * - i a a -—_ ‘_) 7 —- , - A 7 e a ads » ~~ t ; Tr - « va ; x 5 a 1 ee 72 7 : ae = \ tet pot y a : a 7 ae. i ee. y Lagi on ies Fume ne ae be oo . 4 a on OPIN » @ aS - a4” @ ayy Nl ace [ar : ai ae Lie } 7 ey Mas a“ Pre aren,” - if @ : a = : 7 ; -~ j : Se / : J ud he a. |” hf rE 7 “ rn CONTENTS. MissEL TurusH, Turdus viscivorus, WILL... ....ceeesees FIELDFARE THRuSH, Turdus pilaris, WILL. ........--- : GaRDEN TurusH, Twrdus hortensis, C. T. Woop .....+0- Repwine THrusH, Turdus Iliacus, WILL. .....+ sicmiere: GARDEN OUZEL, Merula vulgaris, WILL...........e-008 ming Ouzet, Merula torquata, WILL. .6..22.esececrease Fattow Cuat, Sazicola enanthe, BECHST. ..........06-- Wuiw Caat, Sazicola rubetra, BECHST..... ho siaensicunrane ofa Stone CuHat, Sazicola rubicola, BECHST. ........-. ease Rosin RepsrReEASt, Rubecula familiaris, BuytTH...... Solsts Tree Repstrart, Phenicura albifrons, BLYTH ........0 Tituys REDstTarRT, Phenicura Tithys, JARD. and SELBY . BLvuETHROATED FantaiL, Pandicilla Suecica, BLYTH.... Srp1tous BrakEHoPPER, Locustella sibilatrix, C. T. Woop SEDGE REEDLING, Salicaria phragmitis, SELBY ....62..0 Marsh REEDLING, Salicaria arundinacea, SELBY .......+. Brake NicgHTineGate, Philomela luscinia, Swans. ......- Briacxceart Fauvet, Ficedula atricapilla, BLyTH........ GaRDEN Faouvet, Ficedula hortensis, BLYTH...........+ WHitTETHROATED Fauvet?, Ficedula cinerea, BLYTH .... GarruLous Fauvet, Ficedula garrula, BLYTH........... REDEYED WHINLING, Melizophilus provincialis, Leacu .. HEDGE WarBLER, Sylvia logquax, HERB. ................ - Woop WarBLER, Sylvia sibilatrixz, BECHST....... ABE BAS Wittow WarBLER, Sylvia melodia, BLYTH.......-.6.... GoLpDcRESTED KINGLET, Regulus auricapillus, SELBY.... FIRECRESTED KINGLET, Regulus ignicapillus, MuDIE.... Ivy WREN, Anorthura troglodytes, MORRIS ....40...++0+5 GaRDEN Tit, Parus hortensis, C. T. Woop..........06. : eee eear, Pars cwruleus,. WiiLLs. «5.0.5 ccs meiesee ceva cid amen Cir, Parus palustris, GESN. ....006004660s60e-c008 Pere ETT.» Paris afer, GESN« ««. 5 sic vee vcs ote dae eee MONGTAILED, Tit, Parus caudatus, WILL. .... i... oeus CRESTED Tit, Parus cristatus, ALDROV. .....22..00e080 vill CONTENTS. BearDED Pinnock, Calamophilus biarmicus, LEacu...... Hepct Dunnock, Aceentor modularis, Cuv.......... Sarkce ALPINE ANNET, Curruca collaris, C.T. Woop .... hey ae Prep WaeratiL, Motacilla maculosa, C.T. Woop ...... Be Grey WasctTaliL, Motacilla cinerea, WILL. ....... a ie 9p Sprine OatTeEar, Budytes verna, CUV......-.+6 =e BLuEHEADED OaTEAR, Budytes cyanocephala, N. Woop .. Rock Pipitr, Anthus obscurus, BLYTH .....-...006: la bate Meapow Pipit, Anthus pratensis, BECHST .........-...-. ‘Tree Preir, Anihus‘arboreus, BECHST..). 0.5 /ieaewcts oats Tawny Lavrock, Corydalla fusca, ViG.sces.seccceancses Sxy Lark, Alauda arvensis, LINN............ o eae ates 2 Woop Lark, Alauda arborea, LINN............-+ ern ches SHORE Larx; Alauda Alpestris, LINN. «......60...00+00 6 Snowy Lonespur, Plectrophanes nivalis, MEY........... Rusty Lonesrur, Plectrophanes Lapponica, SELBY...... Corn Buntine Emberiza miliaria, LINN............06-- YELLow Buntine, Emberiza citrinella, LINN.......-...- REED Buntine, Emberiza scheniculus, LINN...........-- Crrat Buntine, Emberiza cirlus, LINN. .....-... eae 2 Ortotan Buntine, Emberiza hortulana, LINN.......... HovseE Sparrow, Passer domesticus, ALDROV.......00.--- TREE Sparrow, Passer arboreus, BLYTH...... Séie cee Cuarr Finca, Fringilla celebs, LINN.......-2--.-6- sees BraMBieE F incu, Fringilla montana, WILL.........0000- Siskin GOLDWING, Carduelus spinus, STEPH. ..... J ide ae ’4 _->Common GOLDWING, Carduelis elegans, STEPH............ “Wan Linnev, Linaria cannabina, SWAINS.........0006 Mountain LInNET, Linaria montana, WILL....... eee RepPoLt Linnet, Linaria pusilla, BLYTH.............. Meaty LInneET, Linaria canescens, GOULD..........0+.. Haw GrossBeak, Coccothraustes crategus, BLYTH ....... A GREEN GROSBEAK, Coccothraustes chloris, FLEM.......... Pippin CrossBiLu. Crucirostra vulgaris, STEPH.......... Pine Crossspixyi, Crucirostra pinetorum, MEY............ WHITEWINGED CRossBILL, Crucirostra leucoptera, STEPH. Pint THICKBILL, Densirostra enucleator, C.T. Woopn.... HepcGeE Coatnoon, Pyrrhula vulgaris, TEM. ........... 2 SPOTTED STARLING, Sturnus varius, MEY...........0.-- PREFACE. Ir is frequently a matter of surprise, to those little versed in ornithological science, that, although we have already several works relating to Ornithology, and more especially to that of our own island, yet that others, ap- parently with a similar aim, are almost continually issuing from the press. ‘* Why,” say they, “should we have the same history so often over ?’”—Now, though this shallow mode of argument appears sufficiently plausible to the ‘“‘ general reader,” the experienced Ornithologist at once perceives the emptiness and the absurdity of the remark. If each succeeding author did tell the same story, surely no one would take the needless trouble of consulting their works. But the fact is, that Nature can never be exhausted, and however long and minute the description of the economy of any bird may be, much yet remains to be added. The writers of the Linnzean era seem to have supposed that a few lines would comprise ali that it was either pos- sible or necessary to say on the habits of any one bird ; and they acted accordingly. But the high-spirited and en- thusiastic Witson at once broke through such trammels, x PREFACE. and soared far above all his competitors, with a steady and majestic flight. His bright example has since been followed, with more or less success, by various modern authors, and especially by AupuBon, whose highly valu- able Ornithological Biography deserves unqualified praise. In our own country, Montacu, Sexsy, and others, have laboured with equal zeal, and no small success. But still, to suppose that these worthies have effected all that can be effected, would indeed be a mistaken notion. No work treating of our Ornithology, hitherto published, has been without its due share of errors and defects; and, indeed, all that we can ever hope to achieve, with regard to the habits of the feathered tribes, is to add as much as possi- ble to their biographies. With this object alone the present volume has been written; and, of course, it contains numerous errors, which I shall most gladly acknowledge and correct, when pointed out tome. Any observations tending to confirm or controvert what I may have advanced, from whatsoever quarter, would likewise receive due attention. Indeed, I conceive there is no more advantageous mode of improving our knowledge in this and other departments of that de- lightful science, to which we ought all to pay more or less attention, than a correspondence between Naturalists resid- ing in distant parts of the country. Although the natural reserve of the English character doubtless tends greatly to repress such communication, yet, when once entered on, it never fails to impart mutual satisfaction to the parties concerned. And here I gladly seize the opportunity of returning my warmest acknowledgments for the very PREFACE. Xi liberal manner in which I have been assisted, and the very kind interest which has been taken in my literary labours, by Epwarp Buiytu, J. D. Satmon, Esq., Dr. Cuarztes Liverroot, J. D. Weston, Esq., Dr. Joun Latuam, the Rev. W. T. Breer, Dr. SHIRLEY Parmer, Epwin Lees, Esq., Wititiam D. BurcHe Lt, Esq., Dr. NicHotas C. PErcivaL, and many others, whose communications (some anonymous), are mostly printed at the end of the several articles, in order to avoid that admixture of styles which would otherwise have been unavoidable. I may further remark, that where my con- tributors had employed erroneous names, the proper ones have been substituted, which will prevent all confusion. In the following pages, I have purposely omitted all dry technical details of plumage, &c., except in the case of the rarer species, as it could serve no useful purpose, to repeat, nearly in the same words, what has been in every worthless compilation, from ArisToTLe to the pre- sent day, respecting the plumage of our common and well- known birds. Of course it cannot be denied, that much of the infor- mation contained in this book, has been included else- where; and, from the very nature of the work, this must be the case. But no one fact is herein stated, which has not been observed with my own eyes, excepting where other authorities are referred to, which is, in every case, done openly and fully. And, while I agree with my pre- decessors in many points, I have found much to correct, and still more to add, to the meagre and unsatisfactory accounts of most of our British Ornithologists. Xil PREFACE. I will not, like some fawning writers, conclude by in- voking the clemency of the reader and the critic, but offer my pages to be duly and thoroughly sifted by both parties, fearing little from the listlessness of the ‘‘ general reader,” or the severity of the reviewer. It now only remains to be added, that the following pages are the result of many years close observation and investigation in the fields—the only place where the won- derful operations of Nature can be successfully studied ; and that the book has been composed in the intervals between less pleasing, and, I may say, frequently less useful occupations. NEVILLE Woop. Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire. April, 1836. BRITISH SONG BIRDS. OrpER II.—INSESSORES, Vicors. TrisE II.—DENTIROSTRES, Cuvier. Famity III.—_TURDID4&, N. Woop. Sus-Famity ITI.—TURDINA, N. Woop. Genus, TURDUS, Anrtie. Misset Turvusn, Turdus viscivorus, Wit. As patriots guard their country from the steps Of some proud tyrant, and his lawless band, Who, on the broad arena of the world, Like gladiators, fight for prize and plunder, ** And spread destruction o’er a smiling land;”’ So dauntless guards the Storm-Cock his lov’d home, His mate, his young, his nest, from prowling Hawk. Anonymous. SynNoNyMSs.—Turdus viscivorus, LINN. Syst.—LATH. Ind. Orn.—Anulyst, No. 13.—Merula viscivora, SELBY’s Br. Orn.—Missel Thrush, SELByY’s Br. Orn. —Analyst, No. 13. Tuis large and handsome Thrush remains in Britain throughout the year, and is rather plentifully, and equally distributed over the kingdom; though from its comparatively shy and secluded habits, less is known of its economy than of that of the other British Thrushes. I have taken considerable pains to make myself acquainted with its haunts and habits, and flatter myself that I have not failed in the attempt. The Missel Thrush is far from being a rare bird in Derbyshire, and its habits have afforded me considerable amusement for several years past. Though it is fond of retirement, very thick and B 2 THE MISSEL THRUSH. extensive woods do not appear to be its favourite haunts, as is is generally to be met with in small woods; and, during the inclement seasons, they congregate in small flocks ; occasion- ally also, though seldom, I have known it associate with the Garden Thrush. Its food is nearly the same as that of the other Thrushes. In summer it subsists on slugs, snails, grubs, and worms ; in autumn on blackberries, and on the berries of the mountain-ash ; and in winter on the berries of the misseltoe —whence its name—hawthorn, juniper, holly, and ivy, and sometimes, though rarely, on sloes. It does not appear so eminently frugivorous as some others of the genus, and indeed I believe the fact of its eating domesticated fruit at all, has hitherto passed unnoticed, or it has been mistaken for the Garden Thrush. The following anecdote, however, puts the matter beyond a doubt :— When walking in a garden containing all kinds of fiuit trees, in the summer cf 1833, the gardener, who, by the way, is by no means more favourable to the feathered race than the rest of his tribe, was prowling about in search of his prey. After a short while, my ears were saluted by the report of a gun from the quarter in which I had, but two minutes before, ob- served the gardener with his gun. His aim | knew to be fatal, and on nearing him to discover the nature of his prize, was not a little astonished to find it the bird whose habits we are now detailing, and still more astonished on learning that it had been feeding on the redcurrants toadegree which had evidently greatly excited the destructiveness of the predaceous gardener. I might have doubted the truth of his story, and have taken it to be merely an excuse for destroying the bird, had I not since fre- quently verified the fact from personal observation. It is in walled gardens, partially surrounded by trees, that its frugivorous™ propensities are most apparent. In such situations, and espe- cially when the young are rearing, its depredations on the garden are very considerable, and currants, gooseberries, rasp- 2 * When I speak of fruit, I do not include wild berries under the term. THE MISSEL THRUSH. 3 berries, strawberries, and peas, seldom come amiss to the young birds. As long as any individual of the human race is to be seen in the garden, the Missel Thrush will seldom venture its precious life there, but the enemy is no sooner out of sight, than it appears from its retreat, and feasts at its leisure until again disturbed. By sheltering yourself behind a thick currant bush, you will have full scope for observing its frugivorous propensities. The gooseberries and currants it swallows whole, with great composure, always choosing the largest and ripest. The red currants are its favourites, and the yellow are only resorted to when their more rosy congeners fail. Of gooseberries the smooth kind are selected, and as our garden gives birth to those of the rough or hairy variety chiefly, the depredations I have experienced of these, from the Missel Thrush, are trifling. It is particularly partial to the large yellow gooseberries, and I have sometimes noted five or six of the species—doubtless the family party—making a hearty meal on this large and luscious fruit. Thus we find that the Missel Thrush has not a little of the epicure in it. It likes red currants and yellow gooseberries!—no mean fare either. But although I have known a single bush entirely despoiled of its fairest produce in the course of a week, or less, merely’ by the voraciousness of this bird, yet, on the whole, fruit forms but a small portion of its subsistence, as it is principally during the time when the young are in the nest that it eats fruit at all. Garden peas appear, however, fully as palatable to it as red currants and yellow gooseberries, and afford it more sub- stantial and more permanent fare. When it can, it will always be happy to insinuate itself among the rabble of House Sparrows that invariably flock around the pea-rows, and, by keeping itself concealed with considerable circumspection, seems willing that the blame should rest on its pert and noisy associates. But, though it may escape the observation of the gardener, yet it will not pass unnoticed by the observing Ornithologist. I have, accordingly, frequently seen it tugging with might and main at the pea-pods, either to pull them off, and open them at B 2 4 THE MISSEL THRUSH. their leisure in a safer place, or to crack them, and devour the delicacies concealed within, on the spot. Nothing is more common than to observe this bird flying off with its booty to a neighbouring wood, where we may suppose its wife and family are anxiously awaiting its return. On its approach to the nest, it is welcomed home with loud and discordant screams, which, discordant though they be to our ears, are without doubt dictated by affection. The garden is, however, perhaps not the best place for watch- ing the habits of this interesting bird. For although I have been so fortunate as to have observed it frequently in gardens in this neighbourhood, yet, judging from the descriptions of authers, it would seem that it is not generally a visitant of the garden. ‘To the wood, therefore, let us repair without further deiay. A thick braky wood (the Paradise of the Warbler fa- mily) will not do for our researehes in the present case. A grove consisting of tall trees, either beech or oak, will suit us best. Having arrived at the desired spot, let us conceal our- selves behind the shelter of a hedge or thick bush, and, if there be any Missel Thrush’s nests about the premises, you have not long to wait before you hear the somewhat unmusical cry of the male bird, which may possibly fly directly over your hiding place. This will give you an idea of its mode of flight, and some of its other habits. But if you wish to observe it still more closely, you must, after having discovered a nest, turn up a piece of ground near the spot, and place a few meal-worms thereon. This done, return to your hiding place, and you will not fail of gaining a tolerably good insight into its habits, though it requires a long course of close and patient observa- tion to become thoroughly acquainted with its manners. The best means of observing it in winter, is to conceal yourself near a misseltoe or juniper bush. The berries of these and other bushes it plucks, and devours with avidity, and, when shot in winter, its bill and legs are often stained with the juices of the berries on which it may happen to have been feeding. I have frequently known it trample newly turned up soil in the THE MISSEL THRUSH. 5 same manner as the Peewit Lapwing and other birds, in order to force the unfortunate worms out of their subterraneous re- treat. Worms and insects appear to be more exclusively its food than snails, which indeed it does not shell so adroitly as the Garden Ouzel and the Garden Thrush. ThoughI do not profess to give a satisfactory reason for this, yet the fact I can confidently assert to be true, nor indeed would I have penned it, had [ not been certain of its truth. The flight of the Missel Thrush is rapid, but not smooth, and it is best adapted for short quick flights. When you see it flying from the top of a lofty oak tree, and repairing to a neighbouring wood, its heavy and apparently laborious, though rapid flight, would certainly not lead you to suppose it a Thrush, were you not aware of the fact. It is also consider- ably larger than the birds with which we commonly associate the name Thrush, being about eleven inches from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail. Some individuals measure even more, but I believe eleven inches to be the average. The song of the Missel Thrush has ever been a disputed point among Ornithologists ; some maintaining that it is loud, harsh and disagreeable, while others declare it to be full, rich, and melodious! Now I am by no means inclined to go into either of these extremes. I have frequently heard the song of this bird ; and although it certainly does not possess the deep and rich melody of the Garden Ouzel, yet it is far from disa- greeable. The merit of the song of birds must, however, always be, in a great measure, matter of opinion. Thus some give the palm to the Garden Ouzel, others to the Garden Thrush, others again to the Black-capt Fauvet, but I believe that all allow each of these delightful songsters to be unri- valled in its peculiar manner. But I am inclined to think that the difference of opinion with regard to the Missel Thrush, rests on other ground. For though there might be difference of opinion with regard to this as well as any other bird, yet I think the conflicting accounts have arisen from the little ac- quaintance which authors possess with this species. Some 6 THE MISSEL THRUSH. say that it is harsh and disagreeable, because they have heard little more than the undoubtedly discordant scream which it un- sparingly utters before a storm, and because it is called by the vulgar, “‘ Holm Screech,” ‘‘ Screech Thrush,” and other appella- tions derived from its screeching ; whilst the party in favour of the sweetness of the song have probably mistaken the strains of some other birds for those of the Missel Thrush. In my opinion, the song is decidedly inferior to the clear and open melody of the Garden Thrush, the strains being more desultory, and perhaps not quite so melodious. The song would be far too loud for a room, and, should any of my readers be inclined to keep so large a bird in confinement, they will find it convenient to hang the cage outside the window, or, as BEcHSTEIN advises in his admirable Cage Birds, in a spacious hall. The Missel Thrush has been observed to sing on the wing, like the Spot- ted Starling, Ivy Wren, and some others. I have only per- ceived this habit in a few instances, and such eccentric pro- ceedings are certainly not peculiar to our songster. I have never had the curiosity to keep this bird in a cage, nor am I partial to the practice of captivating any of the Thrushes or Ouzels. They are extremely troublesome in confinement, and neither the song nor habits can, in my opinion, compensate that trouble. There is of course no disputing about tastes, but for my own part, I have not derived one-tenth part of the pleasure from keeping birds in confinement, that I have from observing their unsophisticated habits in a state of nature; and the only caged bird I now possess is a solitary Hedge Dunnock, which at present enjoys the run of a large and com- modious aviary. I have in my time kept all kinds of birds in confinement, both foreign and British, from the Barn Owl to the Ivy Wren, and this was undoubtedly what first in- duced me to commence the study of Ornithology as a science ; but now I find far greater pleasure in exploring the hedge, the wood, the field, the lake, and the marsh, in all weathers, at all seasons, and at every hour of the day and night which I can possibly devote to this fascinating pursuit. But to return to THE MISSEL THRUSH. | our songster, whose claims for imprisonment we had been discussing before this digression. Not the least interesting part of the biography of the Missel Thrush is its nidification. Although the fact has not been re- marked by authors, yet it may undoubtedly be ranked amongst those birds which return year after year to incubate on the same spot, and on the same tree. I am inclined to suppose that those birds in which this habit is observed, either pair for life, or that the same pair return to the spot each year, there to taste anew the delights of happy wedlock. If the latter be the case, the birds certainly have this advantage over us, that their married state never becomes wearisome. The cause of the Missel Thrush’s returning to the same spot for incubation is a full development of the organs of Inhabitiveness and Locality, which same faculties also guide the Swallows without fail each to its own nest. The nest of the Missel Thrush is large, some- what loose, and not remarkably compact: nor indeed is com- pactness essential in this case, as the cleft of the tree—its in- variable site—fully atones for any deficiency in the structure itself. It consists of dry grass, hay or bents externally, and is lined with grass of a finer texture. This is its usual compo- sition ; but it is occasionally adorned with wool, paper, rags, and such deiectable objects, stuck loosely outside the structure. Though the nest is certainly not a model of symmetry, yet it is admirably adapted to the purpose for which it is intended, the white moss and hay assimilating so closely with the colour of the branch on which it is placed, that although it is generally situated in an open and otherwise conspicuous station, yet it is not always an easy matter to discover it, even if you know whereabouts it is. The eggs, which, according to my experi- ence, are almost invariably five in number and never more, are of a greenish white colour, blotched at the larger end with large patches of reddish brown. The eggs, however, are very subject to variety, so much so, that in many cases, an expe- rienced Ornithologist alone could distinguish the species by a sight of them. The nest never varies, and cannot be mis- 3 THE MISSEL THRUSH. taken for that of any other bird. Not only do the eggs differ greatly in colour, but also in shape and size. I haveseen some about twice the usual size, and nearly round. These specimens were taken from avery early nest, and were not double-yolked. This bird will not quit its nest until you are almost within reach of its tail, but it is extremely quick in escaping from your hand. On one occasion, a friend being in want of a specimen of the nest and eggs of this species for his museum, and also of the bird itself, proposed to me to endeavour to catch the fe- male on the first nest we could find. We accordingly repaired to a neighbouring wood, in which I was almost certain we should discover a nest. We were not disappointed ; and per- ceiving that one of the parents was on the nest, my friend ad- vanced cautiously towards the tree, with an instrument of de- struction in his right hand, with the murderous and somewhat unfeeling intention of knocking the bird on the head. He aimed, as he supposed, a deadly blow at the innocent creature ; the bird was, however, too quick for him, and escaped unhurt, to relate the adventure to its mate, which was hurrying towards the spot to see how affairs were going on at home. On looking into the nest, we discovered five callow young, and I was in- deed rejoiced that the blow inflicted by my friend did not reach the skull of the unhappy mother, as in that case we should have been compelled, however reluctantly, to have slain the young birds. I had afterwards the satisfaction of observing this brood following their parents in the wood, and there fed by them. Towards dusk of the same evening, we were sufficiently fortunate to discover a Missel Thrush’s nest which had been deserted, and next day I shot a fine male of the former year for my friend. Although the preceding anecdote proves that the Missel Thrush is in general not easily disturbed on its nest, yet on some occasions I have known it remarkably shy. Both sexes take their turns on the nest, and the male may frequently be heard pouring forth his joyous notes in the neighbourhood of it. Most persons mistake the song of this bird for that of the THE MISSEL THRUSH. 9 Garden Thrush, to which indeed it has considerable resem- blance; but the experienced Ornithologist easily detects the difference. The Missel Thrush always pours forth his strains at a very great elevation, on one of the loftiest trees the neigh- bourhood affords. It commences its song very early in the | year, generally in February, but sometimes in January, and at that season, though not so thrilling as that of many other birds, it has indescribable charms to the Ornithologist; and , indeed I know few pleasures greater than that afforded by hearing it send forth its melody from a lofty beech tree, on the delighted neighbourhood, and inviting, as it were, the balmy air of spring to spread its genial influence over the earth. I re- gret to add, however, that in times past I have had no scruple to send after it a charge of No. 5, whilst it was uttering its love song,—a crime of which I hope none of my readers have ever been guilty. Though I think I have a good aim, I never succeeded in killing this bird at the usual elevation at which it sings, but have frequently wounded it; it is also a remarkably strong bird, and though several shots may have entered its body, it will frequently escape the talons, though not the barrel, of its merciless pursuer. Sometimes when I have winged it, it would make good its escape among the long grass, and though I have afterwards shot at and wounded it two or three times, yet could I not catch it; but when its young are just hatched, nothing is easier than to shoot it. At this period its courage is so great, that few even of the bold and predaceous Falcon family dare attack it, and, though I have never myself witnessed it defending itself against the Falconide, yet I have never known any of these make too near approach to its nest; I fear, however, that the crafty Magpie teo often proves a match for it. When attacked fairly and openly, our bold songster may almost be said to be invincible, but I have witnessed both the Magpie and Common Jay carrying off a young Missel Thrush in triumph, before the parents are aware that an intruder has been invading their premises. In these cases the parents are never apprised of 10 THE MISSEL THRUSH. their loss, as unless they have actually seen one of their darlings carried off, the diminution in the family party is not noticed, and peace continues to reign within the nest. The eggs are hatched in about sixteen days, and the same term renders the young birds fit to make their entry into “ life,” themselves to become parents in their turn, and to undergo the perils and dangers incident to this nether world. Jn addition to, and in corroboration of, my own account of this bird, I feel great pleasure in presenting my readers with the following particulars, communicated to me by my amiable and talent friend Mr. Bryru, in a letter dated October 3d, 1835 :— “Very early in the winter, the Missel Thrush associates here in large flocks, which are very often mistaken for Field- fare Thrushes, though the note is very different. This bird, which I consider the type of the Thrush genus, is the most baccivorous of the European species, is fond of worms, slugs, snails, and the like, and fruit; but it does not crack its snails so adroitly as the Garden Thrush. It feeds almost entirely on berries. The large Himalaya species I formerly mentioned to you, exactly resembles it in form and size, and probably in habits, but its plumage is -more like that of an immature Missel Thrush.” A correspondent, with whose name and address I am not favoured, thus writes to me :— “As far as my reading goes, I have not been able to find that authors mention the Missel Thrush as a frugivorous bird. That it does feed on our garden fruit, and that pretty plentifully, I have learnt to my cost. For in the middle of summer they generally resort to my fruit bushes, helping them- selves to what I had always before considered exclusively my own property. In confinement it does not object to a piece of mealy apple or pear, but I cannot say that I have observed it eating these in its wild state. Perhaps you have?—N. D.” I am much obliged to my anonymous correspondent for this and other communications with which my book will be enriched. THE MISSEL THRUSH. 11 I have never observed this or any other Thrush to eat apples or pears in their natural state. In aletter dated October the 12th, 1835, Mr. Biytu writes as follows :— “‘ Flocks of Missel Thrushes are now plentiful here. The male is distinguished from the female by his spots being darker and larger, especially about the flanks, and by his colours being generally brighter. He does not acquire the fine sulphur tint on the breast till after the second (autumnal) moult; at least they are then far more handsome. All the Thrushes moult but once in the year—in autumn. At this period the Garden Ouzel generally becomes bare about the head. Like other Dentirostral birds, the wing and tail primaries are not shed until the second autumnal moult; and this even holds good in such species as moult twice in the year, as the Wagtails, Oatears, Pipits, &c., which change all their feathers, but the primaries both in spring and autumn. While the Larks, there- fore (which I range* at the extremity of the Sturnide, close to the American genus Sturnellus) change—like the rest of that family, the Corvide and others which come into my IJnsessores, Cultrir ostres—all the primaries at the very first moult, the Pipits do not shed their’s until the third moult, including the vernal change. ‘The members of the Finch family, and others which range in my Insessores Conirostres, resemble in this the Dentirostres. The Missel Thrush is subject to considerable variety, speci- mens being met with of a light chocolate colour, and others nearly white. * Mr. BiytuH has kindly submitted to me his arrangement of the Order Insessores of VIGORS, 1 THE FIELDFARE THRUSH. FieLprare Turusu, Turdus pilaris, Writ. Ye strangers, banished from your native glades, Where tyrant frost with famine leag’d proclaims «* Who lingers dies;” with many a risk ye win The privilege to breathe our softer air And glean our sylvan berries. GISBORNE’S Walks in a Forest. Synonyms.—Turdus pilaris, Linn. Syst.—LAtTH. Ind. Orn.—Analyst, No. 13, Merula pilaris, SeLBy’s Br. Orn.—Fieldfare Thrush, STEPH. Gen. Zool.— Analyst, No. 13. Tuts bird is not so large as the Missel Thrush, measuring about ten inches; but it is altogether handsomer, has a livelier expression, and richer and darker colours. The breast is remarkably beautiful, with the spots not so square and abrupt as in the preceding species. Its habits are, however, less interesting and do not vary so much as in the Missel Thrush. Most of our Ornithologists date the usual period of its arrival, in the beginning of October. But Sexsy is of opinion that the flocks seen at this time consist of Missel Thrushes, which are taken for Fieldfare Thrushes. This is certainly not the case in my neighbourhood; as the Fieldfare Thrushes generally appear in the beginning of November, and the Missel Thrushes do not congregate till the middle of December, and then they are never observed in such large flocks as the Field- fare and Redwing Thrushes. On its arrival, the Fieldfare Thrush betakes itself to our fields and meadows, preferring those which are flat and extensive. It is abundant in every part of the country, associating with its congener the Redwing Thrush, and, with these, may frequently be observed to follow the flocks of Barefaced Crows, with the view, it may be sup- posed, of profiting by the superior judgment of their venerable associates. It generally departs in the early part of April, but sometimes remains much longer. THE FIELDFARE THRUSH. | is The benefit which it confers on the farmer must be irfimense, as it subsists, in moderately mild seasons, entirely on slugs, snails, worms, and various smail insects, whose scientific names I am not Entomologist enough to know. With the insects themselves, however, and with the peculiar habits of each, I am perfectly conversant. Though the Fieldfare Thrush is naturally a very shy bird, yet, when in large flocks, they admit of a tolerably near approach, especially if you know how to set about it. When going out with a friend to shoot them, we have always found it the best plan to keep close to the hedge, and to advance slowly and cautiously. In this manner and by commencing the attack judiciously on the rear, a very large number may be killed without causing serious alarm to the great mass of birds, especially as they do not generally keep very close together. In mild winters it roosts on the ground. These are its habits in mild seasons. During very hard frosts, its mode of life alters considerably. It then keeps in closer masses, resorts to the lanes and roadsides, and even approaches houses, in order to obtain what the fields and meadows are no longer able to supply. As long as the frost continues in its full rigour, berries form its chief support. Those of the holly, ivy, mountain ash, hawthorn, and also blackberries and barberries now form its chief subsistence, and if the frost does not soon relent, it frequently falls the victim of famine, along with its partners in distress, the Redwing Thrushes. In these “bad times” it admits of a very near approach, and the field Naturalist eagerly avails himself of its misfortunes, to gain a clear insight into its habits. In the winter of 1830, I found several Fieldfare Thrushes dead in different parts, though mostly in pretty “ good case.” Nor was the coldness of the season such as to have caused a material dearth of food ; and the only way which I can account for the fact is, by supposing that cockney sportsmen, and boys come home for the Christmas holidays, had been trying their hand at them, and that they had been wounded, though 14 THE FIELDFARE THRUSH. not in so sportsman-like a manner as to deprive them of life on the spot. Many of my readers may doubtless frequently remember to have found wounded hares and rabbits dead, in woods frequented by poachers. I have, on one or two occasions, found Wood Pheasants which had perished in this ignoble manner, .but these were only discovered by mere accident, as they always take care to perform the funeral rites for themselves, before they consign themselves to the arms of Death, by getting into the very thickest and most braky wood that may happen to be at hand. It is far otherwise with the Fieldfare Thrushes, and in very severe seasons the most care- less observer can scarcely help finding them dead in the fields or beside hedgerows and sheltered lanes. This bird is supposed to be the species so admired by the voluptuous Romans as an article of food, and it was by them fed in immense numbers in aviaries or voleries, and when fat, they were sold fora shilling a-piece. So profitable, indeed, was this trade, that there were regular dealers, who did nothing but fatten them. The aviaries were made nearly dark, and the newly-caught birds were placed with those which had been rendered comparatively tame. As soon as they became more reconciled to their lot, they were placed in a second aviary, where they became considerably fatter. After this, they graduated again, being placed carefully in the third and last aviary, there to end their days. When arrived at this im-_ portant stage of their feeding, great care was taken not to frighten or molest them in any way, and only just enough light was admitted to enable them to find their food, which consisted of the finest figs and flour mashed up into a paste, so that they ‘fared sumptuously every day,” until that fatal hour when a cruel twist of the neck put a period to whatever they may have experienced of happiness or misery. As soon as any of the birds were judged fit for the table, they were taken out of the aviary with great care, in order that the composure of the rest might not be disturbed. This expensive mode of feeding, practised by the ancients, has been equalled, if not surpassed, THE FIELDFARE THRUSH. 15 in modern times. I allude to the custom of cramming Geese and Turkeys, so commonly adopted by our London poulterers. The article crammed down the throats of the unfortunate wretches, not unfrequently consists of figs.—SrLBy says he has found the flesh of this species bitter, but I should think that this depends entirely on the time of year at which it is taken, and onthe food on which it had previously subsisted. For my own part, I have never had the curiosity to taste the flesh of this or any other song bird, but some of my friends who have, assure me that at a particular time of the year the flesh is excellent, but that at other times it possesses the bitter taste so peculiar in the Missel Thrush in winter, and more or less at all times. The Fieldfare Thrush is still considered a dainty by our epicures, and thousands which are captured in the country, by nets, are annually sent to London. The Fieldfare Thrush has never been known to breed in this country, but it is said that in Sweden, Norway, and other Northern countries, it builds in pine and fir trees, Jaying from three to five eggs of a light greenish blue, spotted with reddish brown. The egg has been figured by my friend Hewirtson, in his exquisitely beautiful British Oology, a work which does credit to all who are concerned in its publication. It is un- necessary to describe either the nest or eggs very minutely, as the bird never nidificates in Britain. It seems a little extraordinary, that a bird of such peculiarly ground habits— in our own country at least—should nestle in lofty trees. I can, however, well believe the fact, as in England, they generally pass the night in fir plantations. During the few last remarkably mild and open winters, however, I have generally known them roost on the ground, in which case they do not lie together in one mass, but form themselves into separate groups, thus keeping each other sufficiently warm. In the winter of 1831, I remember to have witnessed a very curious and notable conflict between a flock of Barefaced Crows and another of Fieldfare Thrushes, in Sudbury-coppice :—In riding rather late one evening (I forget the day, but I shall 16 THE FIELDFARE THRUSH. never forget the circumstance) along the road which leads from Ashborne to Sudbury, I was struck by the remarkable appear- ance presented by a flock consisting of hundreds of Fieldfare Thrushes darting down among the trees, and then as suddenly darting aloft into the air, whirling round and round all] the time like the Spotted Starling. It would appear that the Barefaced Crows had, like all wise birds, retired early to rest, and that the Fieldfare Thrushes, which had been sitting up rather later than they were wont to do, were in a manner benighted, and had been robbed of their usual resting-place by the Barefaced Crows, which appears to have incensed them to such a degree, that they were induced to make the attack above described. This siege was kept up so industriously and for such length of time, that the lazy Barefaced Crows at length rose from the Coppice, mingling with apparent rage amongst the Fieldfare Thrushes, and altogether producing such an uproar as forcibly to recal to my mind the splendid descriptions of the Passenger Pigeon of America, given by those consummate Ornithologists, W1Ltson and Aupuson. When the Barefaced Crows were once excited to active measures, the contest was soon concluded by their heavily dropping down again on their warm couches, there to dream of their singular adventure. The vanquished were of course obliged to provide beds for themselves in another quarter. I had the curiosity to visit the spot on the following evening before dusk, and found that the Fieldfare Thrushes had gained experience from their late adven- ture, and retired early to roost. And this they did on every succeeding night that I visited the coppice. Though I re- mained till it was quite dark each night, I never found that the Barefaced Crows offered to disturb the rightful owners of the wood, nor have I ever had the pleasure of witnessing a like adventure since that time. My excellent friend Bryru informs me, that “ the song of the Fieldfare Thrush is very unmelodious—worse than that of the Redwing Thrush, and in fact a mere chatter.”” I have kept this species in confinement, but never heard it sing. I THE GARDEN THRUSH. IZ once put one which I had winged into a cage; it was re- markably sullen, but neither was it wild, nor did it make any efforts to escape. If you had seen it, you would have sup- posed it had a very deep project in its head—so wise and solemn did it look. It did not live many days. GarpDEN Turusu, Turdus hortensis, C. T. Woop. Hark how the air rings! Tis the Mavis sings ; And merrily, merrily sounds her voice, Calling on valleys and hills to rejoice ; For winter is past, And the stormy blast Is hast’ning away to the northward at last. Minstrelsy of the Woods. Synonyms.—Turdus musicus, LINN. Syst.—LATH. Ind. Orn.—Merula musica, SELBy’s Br. Orn.—Turdus hortensis, Garden Thrush, Analyst, No. 13. Tu1s is nearly the smallest of the British Thrushes, mea- suring but nine inches in length. It is indigenous in Britain, and very plentifully distributed over the kingdom. Although _1 believe that all the Garden Thrushes bred with us remain in Britain throughout the year, yet it is said that immense fiocks —the product of more northerly latitudes—visit us in autumn ; but in the midland counties these extraneous flocks do not appear, and | believe that they neither penetrate far into the country, nor remain very long with us. Be this as it may, it matters little at present, as in this work I shall only describe what I have myself observed. The Garden Thrush, though pretty equally distributed over our island, is most partial to fertile and cultivated spots, and more especially to kitchen gardens, where it is seldom at a loss for food. This consists of slugs, snails, earth-worms, and especially the Helix nemoralis, in spring and summer, and also in mild winters, but in severe weather it is compelled to be- come wholly baccivorous, subsisting on the berries of the holly, ivy, mountain ash, and juniper, as also blackberries and c 18 THE GARDEN THRUSH. mulberries, which it devours in great numbers. I have re- marked that mountain ash trees, situated in woods and planta- tions, are generally entirely stripped before the end of summer, by the Garden Thrushes and Garden Ouzels, but those close to houses are frequently loaded with fruit till the end of autumn, and avery beautiful sight it is. These trees, however, do not escape in the end, and if you look out of your window on the first frosty morning in December, you will see these and other Thrushes and Ouzels tugging with might and main at the un- happy tree, which will now soon be despoiled of its whole crop. As soon as you are observed, the wary flock will fly off, and will not re-appear for a considerable time afterwards ; the Garden Ouzels are always the first to give the alarm. It is a very amusing sight to watch four or five Garden Thrushes scouring the mown grass before the house, in search of the slugs and snails, which form so essential a part of their sub- sistence,—now darting forward, now looking up, and ever and anon pitching upon an unhappy worm, which, if the bird hap- pens to be in a state of celibacy, it devours on the spot, with much apparent satisfaction. But, should it be married, and have a family to provide for, the unfortunate reptile is instantly borne aloft to the nest, and deposited in the eager and gaping mouth of one of the nestlings. The Garden Thrush is universally allowed to be one of the finest of our songsters, and to hear it on a clear April morning is certainly very delightful ; though, when heard close, and alone, its strains sound desultory, and even harsh. It is en- tirely devoid of the deep and rich—I had almost said sublime— melody of the Garden Ouzel. Its song, however, forms an excellent addition to the vernal chorus, especially if heard in the distance. The most favourable time for hearing it is early in the morning, or late in the evening, when it certainly sounds to great advantage. It sings earlier and later in the day than most of our sylvan choristers, and I never enjoyed its song so much as when waiting for the Brake Nightingale to strike up. Then indeed it is peculiarly delightful even to hear them send- THE GARDEN THRUSH. 19 ing forth their alarm notes, bidding good night as it were to their companions ; when, but a few minutes before, the woods had rung with their charming melody, all is now still, and nothing of the Garden Thrushes is heard but their “good night.”” When one individual shouts out this farewell from his airy bed, he is answered on all sides by dozens of others, and then for a few minutes deep silence reigns in the woods, until, all vulgar songsters having ended their tales, the Brake Nightingale commences his. And a delightful tale it is, as the moon can well testify,—but of this hereafter. The Garden Thrush continues singing till it is nearly dark, and one or two individuais keep up much later. In the long days it commences at one o’clock in the morning, and I can assure my readers that I have frequently been out at this time on purpose to hear it singing. The Garden Thrush is a very polite bird, and before it begins the affairs of the day, its good morning is proclaimed in its loudest tone, and duly answered by its associates. Very soon after this, they are in full song, and are shortly joined by the rest of the vernal chorus. Charming as is the song of this bird in its native haunts, nothing is, in my opinion, more dis- agreeable than to hear its tame and mutilated strains in con- finement, and indeed there can be no excuse for keeping it in cages, except in large towns and cities. I have often listened with delight to its notes, especially when I have been sojourning some time in London. Indeed, I think I may safely assert, that I have derived atleast as much pleasure from hearing birds in cages in towns, as I have in their native woods in the country. I have heard this bird whistle many tunes and waltzes with great precision, and without missing a note. I admired its skill in the execution of these, but would at all times rather hear its own unsophisticated strains, as the others always ap- pear to me artificial and constrained, and it is rarely that you can get them to sing the acquired tunes without an admixture of their own more natural notes. c 2 20 THE GARDEN THRUSH. The nest of the Garden Thrush is composed exteriorly of moss, sticks, and grass, tolerably neatly framed together, but large, and not very compact. The compound of the interior has given rise to many conflicting opinions. Some say that it consists entirely of cow-dung, and this is the generally re- ceived supposition. My observations have, however, led me to a different conclusion. All the nests I have examined (of course an immense number) appear to me to have been plastered with a mixture of a light kind of clay and rotten wood. I incline the more strongly to this opinion, because, in breaking up the inner crust of a Garden Thrush’s nest, I have always found pieces of wood stuck in at different parts, and because, more- over, before the nest is quite completed, I have generally seen pieces of wood lying at the bottom of the nest. That a coat of cow-dung may occasionally be plastered over the inner sur- face, I am not prepared to deny, but am convinced that it is not commonly the case. The nest is mostly situated on a part of the branch where three or four arms meet, and therefore it need not be very compact. This bird is not very curious in the choice of a situation for building, but generally makes its nest in a low thick bush. I have found the common and Portugal laurels to be favourite bushes, but the nest is also frequently found in holly bushes, hawthorns, or even in hedges. They may likewise be con- fidently looked for in wall-fruit trees, and especially pears, whose thick foliage afford ample shelter even for so large a nest. On one or two occasions aiso I have seen it fixed on a horizontal bar, near a running stream; but this I consider a very eccentric situation for the Garden Thrush. A nest that I once knew in such a locality, afforded me considerable amuse- ment, and it was very curious to observe the young birds gap- ing their wide mouths for food in this strange situation. When this brood was fledged, and ready to fly, I took the opportunity of hiding myself behind a bush, to watch their first flight, as I expected them to depart every minute. I had the satisfaction of seeing the female return to the nest five times, every time THE GARDEN THRUSH. 21 bringing a fat slug or worm to deposit in the mouth of each of its nestlings, and scarcely had it departed for the fifth time, when a boy, prowling in that direction, instantly spied the nest, and doubtless thought it a rare prize. I now determined to watch his habits also, and, still remaining concealed, saw him put his hat over the nest, and prepare to carry off the whole family. It was now high time to intercede in behalf of my young friends, and I had the satisfaction of setting at liberty five plump young Garden Thrushes, which, but for my timely interference, had never seen their parent again, or have tasted the sweets of liberty. I never see a boy with a nest of eggs or young birds in his hands, but I remonstrate with him on his cruelty, or cause the nest to be returned to the spot from which it was taken. Sometimes I have found Garden Thrushes’ nests begun so early as the middle of February, but have never known them completed. A few sunny days, in the February of 1835, caused many of these birds to commence building in this neighbour- hood, but a frost coming on, every one of them was abandoned, to my great regret. It is not before the end of March that the Garden Thrush begins building in earnest, but its song may be heard, in mild seasons, six weeks before this time. [ have known one of these birds dash against a window, and kill itself on the spot, having probably been pursued by one of the unrelenting members of the Falcon family. When the Garden Thrush is first put into confinement, it often becomes very sulky, and, like the Fieldfare Thrush, refuses all food, but in afew days it relents, seeming smitten by the kind atten- tions of its jailer. If put into a very large aviary, it is a lively, interesting, and even happy bird; but it is despicable to see it pent up ina cage of a foot square, and shameful in those hard- hearted individuals who place it in such a situation. I assure you, kind reader, that I have frequently offered cottagers and others a shilling if they would consent to the release of their captive. Such a proposal has always met with a very cold reception, and with no other answer than a vacant stare, and 92 THE GARDEN THRUSH. I should not wonder, indeed, if on such occasions I am sup- posed to be a little cracked / But let us turn from this picture of misery, Me the Garden Thrush in his native haunts, where he knows no bounds but his own inclination, and those placed by Nature. This bird sometimes sings on a very low tree, but whatever be the al- titude of the tree, the top branch is invariably chosen for the vocal performance. You may sometimes approach very close to him without his heeding you, but you must do it very cautiously, and by stealth. As soon as he per- ceives you, if you keep quiet, he will generally continue his strains, but in a very subdued tone. Sometimes, however, I have known him pluck up sufficient courage to perform his song in his best manner, when I was standing within a few yards of him. But a moment’s break in the melody at once cuts short your observations, as you may then know that he is preparing to wish you good bye, and to leave you astonished at the rapidity and abruptness of his departure. To watch it cracking the shell of the Helix nemoralis on a stone, is a very amusing sight, and these poor creatures are devoured in such numbers as to leave evident traces of the feasting that has been going on. No less gratifying is it to the Ornithologist to observe it plucking and swallowing the berries of the moun- tain ash, hawthorn, currant, and gooseberry, though, to the gardener, the latter is a most distressing sight. Monracvu is of opinion, that a wet season is fatal to Garden Thrushes, as their nests, from being water-proof, become filled with water, and the eggs are of course spoiled. But for three distinct reasons I am inclined to differ from this eminent and accurate Ornithologist, or, inthe words of WittueHBy, “ I do herein crave leave to dissent from him.” Ist, Because I have never observed such to be the case; 2dly, Because the wings of the bird would effectually keep out all wet; and 3dly, Because ] never yet met with a Garden Thrush’s nest which was water- proof. Very early in the spring I have often found eggs of this bird THE GARDEN THRUSH. 23 lying on the ground without a shell, having been prematurely Jaid. On one occasion I have found an egg of this bird in a pear tree against the wall, on a very small portion of moss— just enough to secure it from falling. This egg was never at- tended to afterwards. For the sake of experiment, I once added to a Garden Thrush’s nest containing five eggs, other five eggs, belonging to a Gar- den Ouzel in the neighbourhood, whom I had taken the liberty of robbing of her lawful property. Eight of these were hatched, and nearly the whole got safely through their infancy. The parents appeared to have some difficulty in providing for so large a progeny, and, after a few days, one cf the young Garden Ouzels died, though I believe it was rather crushed than starved to death. I had the pleasure of seeing this motley brood fol- low their parents among the long grass and low bushes many days after they had quitted the nest, but observed that after a time they parted company, and the Garden Ouzels were no longer seen. The rest remained with their parents a consider- able time (as is their custom), and were fed by them. On another occasion, I put three House Sparrow's eggs into a Garden Thrush’s nest in a pear tree, containing two of her own eggs. On these she sat several days, just as she would have done on her own; but my experiment was cut short vy one of the labourers taking the nest. It is very difficult to complete one’s experiments in this line, and this is the more to be regretted, as I do not often like to rob birds of their eggs. When the Garden Thrush is disturbed on her nest, and es- pecially if she has young, she flies round you in great concern, uttering her peculiar alarm note, ruffling her feathers, spreading her tail, snapping her bill with great force, and testifying her rage in every possible manner. She sometimes even pursues you a short way, as if to see you safe out of her territory, and is, not unfrequently, joined in the hue and cry by other birds, especially the Chaffinch, Green Grosbeak, and Common Lin- net, and sometimes, also, by the Garden Ouzel. The latter has, however, generally enough to do to defend its own progeny 24 THE GARDEN THRUSH. from its numerous enemies. I have found the Thrushes—es- pecially the Missel Thrush—and Ouzels much more courageous in the defence of their nests than any of the smaller birds. 1 once caught a female Garden Thrush on her nest, when the young were just hatched. While I had her in my hand, I could see the male, occasionally, running on the top of the wall, and keeping a vigilant look-out at my proceedings. When the captive was released, both parents flew off together with loud cries, and did not return as long as I was in sight. The young birds still continued to be fed, but I could not ascertain whether the female ever returned to her charge. The Rev. W. T. Brez, of Allesley Rectory, Warwickshire, has lately written to me as follows :— “This summer, during the hot dry weather, the Garden Ouzels and Garden Thrushes were sorely put to it for want of their usual animal food,—slugs, snails, worms, grubs, and the like, and accordingly made unusually free with my goose- berries, currants, and raspberries, to a greater extent than | ever before witnessed. They also, as their custom is in a dry season, stocked up close-growing, tufted, Alpine plants, in search of grubs, &c., that lurked beneath ; propensities which, no doubt, you have often remarked.—Sept. 30, 1835.” As during the greater part of the hot and dry weather of the past summer, I was either in London or confined to the house, I had no opportunity of observing the summer birds, or the sum- mer habits of those which are indigenous, Mr. Brez’s remarks, as relating to the preceding season, are therefore peculiarly va- luable. I am also informed by my valued friend, CHARLES LiverPooL, Esq., M.D., that “‘in the gardens about London, great havoc was made, during the past summer, by the Gar- den Thrushes, among the gooseberries and currants,’” and that “the large yellow kind were special favourites, many bushes being wholly deprived of their produce, merely by the depre- dations of these birds. —Oct. 5, 1835.” That excellent Naturalist, Mr. Buytu, has communicated to me as follows :— THE GARDEN THRUSH. 25 “Of the Garden Thrush, the most curious fact I am ac- quainted with is, that we have, every winter, a considerable accession to their numbers, which differ considerably in their habits from the resident individuals. They arrive at about the same time as the Redwing Thrushes, with which they some- times, but not very often, associate, and, what is remarkable, they continue in flocks like that species, until long after the re- sident Garden Thrushes have reared their first broods, leaving us about the middle or close of April—that is, disappearing like the Redwing Thrushes, for I have not the slightest doubt they leave the country. Some remarks on this subject will be found in the long disquisition on migration contained in my description of the Brake Nightingale.”” In a subsequent com- munication the same acute observer says :—‘‘I saw yesterday (Sunday) week a flock of about forty or fifty Garden Thrushes, which I am confident were natives. None of the American spotted-breasted Thrushes, Philomelozdes (both erroneousnames), flock at all, in this resembling the Nightingales, with which latter they also agree in their shy, retiring, Warbler-like habits.” The following communication corroborates what I have al- ready said with regard to the nest of this bird :—‘‘It surprises me that so accurate an author as Montagu should have fa- voured the opinion (I believe he was the originator of it) of a wet season being destructive to the Garden Thrush,as I never knew such to be the case, and because (though I have not tried it) I consider it extremely unlikely that the nest would retain water, I never knew that such an opinion had been entertained, until I read Renn1re’s edition of the Ornithological Dictionary.— H. Bartow, Cambridge, Oct. 15, 1834.” 26 THE REDWING THRUSH. Repwine Turusu, Turdus Iliacus, WiLu. The melancholy days are come, the saddest of the year, Of wailing winds, and naked woods, and meadows brown and sere, Heap’d in the hollows of the groves, the wither’d leaves lie dead— They rustle to the eddying gust, and to the rabbit’s tread. The robin and the wren are flown, and from the shrubs the jay, And from the wood-top calls the crow through all the gloomy day. Parterre, Vol. III. p. 245.* SyNnonyms.—Turdus Iliacus, WILL. Orn.—LInN. Syst.—LATH. Ind. Orn.— Analyst, No. 13.—Merula Iliaca, SELByY's Br. Orn.—Redwing Thrush, PENN. Br. Zoou.—StTEPH. Gen. Zoola—Mupvik’s Feath. Tribes.—Analyst, No. 13. Turis is the smallest of our British Thrushes, and generaily arrives before the Fieldfare Thrush, appearing about the middle of October. Its habits and haunts are very similar to those of the latter, with which it not uncommonly associates. It frequents fields and meadows, or indeed any open parts of the country, and, according to my experience, seems to prefer upland districts to the low grounds. In severe and long continued frost, it approaches the lanes and highways, gleaning its daily fare from the hedges and woods. Few of our wild berries come amiss to it, and I have, accordingly, observed it to feed on the berries of the hawthorn, blackberry, juniper, ivy, holly, barberry, mountain ash, and occasionally, though rarely, and only in extremely rigorous weather, on those of the sloe. In ordinary seasons, these berries are sufficiently abundant to sustain it through the winter; but, if the frost and snow are of long continuance, the crop soon fails; the Redwinged and Fieldfare Thrushes then perish in great numbers, and may be found frozen and starved to death, in lanes and woods, and under hedges, in an extremely emaciated state. In the winter of 1831, this was the case. On one occasion, J caged a Redwing Thrush, which I had * See some beautiful papers on the seasons, by WILLIAM Cox, in the Parterre, Part 16, for October, 1835. THE REDWING THRUSH. 27 found in a very weakly condition, near a hedgerow. It appeared to have suffered equally from cold and hunger, and I therefore prepared to relieve both as speedily as possible. I placed it near the fire and offered it food. It scarcely moved for about an hour, but after this it speedily recovered, de- voured its food with avidity, and, what is remarkable, was extremely thirsty.* It soon hopped about its cage at perfect ease, and promised to become an interesting pet, when un- happily, in the third day of its captivity, that sworn enemy to all cage birds, Grimalkin, seized it out of its cage, scampered off with the unhappy bird in its mouth, and was out of sight in an instant. I was the more vexed at this, because I particularly desired to have noticed the habits of this species in confinement. In mild and open winters, its food consists chiefly of insects, slugs, caterpillars and worms, and also the Helix nemoralis, which latter it deprives of its shell almost as adroitly as the Garden Thrush. But the localities it frequents are not so favourable to the Helix nemoralis as to the common earth worm, and these, accordingly, form its principal support as long as it remains in the dominions of his Britannic Majesty. It is easy to shoot the Redwing Thrush, by approaching the flock in the rear, and keeping always close to the hedge. If the wind be against you, it will be in your favour; for, paradoxical as this may appear at first sight, yet, when the wind is against you, the report of the gun is greatly deadened before it falls on the ears of the leaders of the flock. Thus, when they associate in very great numbers—which they generally do in hard winters—I have fired for hours in their rear, without causing the main body to take wing, the hinder birds merely flying on till they arrive in front of the troop, and so on. When hard pressed for food, they, like their congeners, the Fieldfare Thrushes, admit of a very near ap- * T have frequently observed with surprise, that frostbitten birds are remark- ably thirsty, and have often known them kill themselves by drinking too much at atime. This is probably owing to the ponds and streams being then frozen over, 98 THE REDWING THRUSH. proach, and the Naturalist and the Sportsman are at full liberty to gratify their respective tastes. But, on the other hand, when the season is mild, and food, in consequence, plentiful, the flocks are considerably smaller, and invariably take wing on the slightest alarm. At such times, it is both a healthy and an amusing exercise to pursue them over hedge and field, with gun in hand. As soon as the birds are apprised of your approach, the hinder ones take wing, and the whole flock soon disappears, leaving you astonished at the rapidity of their departure; but their flight is neither high nor of long duration, as they almost invariably settle a few fields further on. If you approach too openly or abruptly, you will have no chance either of observing their habits, or— which many of my readers will consider a more important affair—of tasting their flesh. For my own part, [ am content to confine myself to the former, and to shooting occasionally a specimen for the museum, or for the purpose of noting the changes of plumage, which take place twice a year in the members of the Thrush genus. With regard to the song of this bird, there appears to be much difference of opinion. SExy says, “it has a clear and melodious note, and its song, when in its native or summer residence (Scandinavia Lapland, Russia), is said to be scarcely inferior to that of our common Thrush.” BrcusTEIN, on the contrary, affirms that its notes are as unmelodious as those of the Fieldfare Thrush. Mr. Biyru informs me, that the latter accords with his observation. Without pretending to clear up this point, I may remark that the song is very rarely heard in this country, and only a short time before its departure. And this it is, doubtless, that has caused the uncertainty with regard to its musical abilities. It is said to be extremely plentiful in the north of Europe, where it remains throughout the year, frequenting wooded and fenny districts, building its nest in a maple, birch, or other lofty tree. It lays from four to six eggs, blueish green, spotted with dark brown. TEmMMINCK says :—‘‘il niche dons les touffes THE REDWING THRUSH. 29 de suregu et de sorbier, dont il mange les baies.”’ My friend Hewirtson has hitherto been unable to procure the eggs of this bird, though he has figured those of the Fieldfare Thrush, in his beautiful and valuable British Oology. Widely as the habits of the Garden and Redwing Thrushes differ, their outward appearance is so extremely similar, that the practised eye of the Ornithologist can alone detect the dif- ference. The distinguishing characters of the sexes of the two species are not more apparent. My esteemed friend Mr, Biytu, thus writes to me on this subject :—‘‘ In the male of the Garden and Redwing Thrushes, the spots on the breast are smaller, and better defined than those of the females,—not larger, as in the Missel Thrush. But you may pick out many Garden and Redwing Thrushes, in which the sex cannot be distinguished by external characters. I can, however, generally tell them at a giance.’—In a subsequent communication, Mr. Bryru says :—“ The Redwing Thrush comes occasionally into gardens, and is the only other species I know of, that knocks off the shell of a snail in the clever manner that the Garden Thrush does.” “The notes of the Redwing Thrush,” says another cor- respondent, “‘ are extremely desultory, and can scarcely be called asong. But I must do it the justice to say, that I have only heard its song in this country, and that but rarely. The strains it pours forth in its summer haunts may possibly be far superior. It generally sings on the tops of trees, but, as far as my experience goes, does not select very lofty ones for the purpose, like the Missel and Garden Thrushes.—N. D.” It is difficult to assign the exact period of the departure of this bird, as some remain till the latter end of May, and have even been observed in June, but at the end of April few remain, the main body generally taking their course to the north about the beginning or middle of this month. In the midland counties, [ have not often observed them after March, but they sojourn awhile in the north of Britain, before their final departure to the countries where they spend the summer. 30 THE REDWING THRUSH. Varieties, more or less white, are occasionally met with. The usual cry of this bird is a short shrill chirp, uttered at small intervals. | I am informed by a correspondent, that a Himalayan species of Thrush, figured by Govutp, but not yet named, has twice occurred in this country. My informant calls it the Mottle- backed Thrush, but as I know nothing of its habits, I am compelled to confine myself to this cursory notice. Genus MERULA, Wii. OUZEL. GARDEN OvuzeEL, Merula vulgaris, Witt. When snow-drops die, and the green primrose leaves Announce the coming flower, the Merle’s note, Mellifluous, rich, deep-toned, fills all the vale, And charms the ravished ear. The hawthorn bush New budded, is his perch; there the grey dawn He hails; aud there, with parting light, concludes His melody. —— GRAHAME’S Birds of Scotland. SynonyMs.—Merula vulgaris, WILL. Orn.—SELBY’s Br. Orn.—Analyst, No. 13. —Turdus merula, LINN. Syst.—LatTH. Ind. Orn.—Black Ouzel, BEw. Hist. Br. Birds.—Y ellow-bill Ouzel, Analyst, No. 13. Tuis well known bird is resident and common in every part of the British Islands, and is one of our most admired song- sters. It pairs early in March, and commences building about the end of that month, generally somewhat before the Garden Thrush. It inhabits such various localities, that it is no easy matter to determine what are its favourite haunts. I think, however, that it is mostly found in walled gardens, and woods near houses, abounding with laurels and other thick bushes. Here it conceals itself in the thickest shades, during the whole day, only rising to the top of the bushes for the purpose of pouring forth its rich melody. It is considerably shyer and fonder of seclusion than any of the other British Turdide, and only appears in open ground early inthe morning, and towards THE GARDEN OUZEL. 31 dusk in the evening. During the rest of the day, it is more heard than seen. If, when it is singing on the top of a low bush, or on a honeysuckle-stand, you attempt to approach it, it instantly drops down amongst the foliage, or flies off, utter- ing its loud and clear alarm note; and on passing the bush in which it is secluded, you will hear a rustling amongst the dead leaves of the former year—that is the Garden Ouzel hopping about in its retreat. If you beat the bush, it rarely takes wing, but either remains perfectly quiet until you have left the place, or hops into a neighbouring bush, thus eluding pursuit. It is also frequently found in hedges adjoining low and damp grounds, where its food is mostabundant. Here, by approach- ing very cautiously along the hedge, you may have a chance of observing it, either singly or with its mate, feeding on the berries of the hawthorn and holly. But if you are not very wary, the bird will be aware of your approach long before you per- ceive it, and suddenly a “ black bird” will start out of the hedge, and conceal itself in an adjoining one further on. [If in the breeding season, it will shortly be followed by its mate, both sounding their alarm notes. It is a peculiarity with the Garden Ouzel, that it seldom or never takes wing—especially when forced to do so—without uttering this note. Neither does it fly far, and, though it is by no means easy to get very close, yet you may easily follow the same birds a whole morn- ing. Itis, in fact, very lazy, and uses its wings very little when not disturbed. For depth and richness of tone, the Garden Ouzel stands unrivalled amongst the British choristers of the woods, and, in my opinion, its melody is not surpassed by any other bird with which I am acquainted, save the Brake Nightingale. Its strains are not so loud as those of the Garden Thrush, but are infinitely superior to them in mellowness andrichness. Its charming notes are mostly uttered in the morning and evening, though in the early part of the season, they may be heard at any time of the day. At noon, in sultry weather, when scarce a note is to be heard in the woods, the Garden Ouzel takes its 5 THE GARDEN OUZEL. siesta; but if, in this state of affairs, the overcharged clouds should disburden themselves on the thirsty earth, the notes of the Garden Ouzel resound from all quarters in an instant. This partiality to rain is cbservable in many other birds. The do- mestic Rock Pigeon spreads its wings to receive the full benefit of the shower, and the Thrushes sing in rainy weather. But the peculiarity is not so striking in any other British songster, as in the one whose habits we are now detailing. The Missel and Garden Thrushes sing mostly in storms, but the Garden Ouzel pours forth its exquisite strains in those delightful and refreshing sunny showers which so frequently occur in the months of April and May. I believe JENNiNnGs is the only au- thor that takes notice of this circumstances. The nest of this bird is generally situated in a low and thick bush, either in gardens or woods adjoining houses. It is also found, but not so frequently as that of the Garden Thrush, in wall-fruit trees, and especially pears, or trees covered with ivy. It consists of moss, sticks, and fibres of roots, plastered with mud inside, and, finally, lined with dry grass. It varies little, as the substances of which it is composed are easily met with in every part of the country. The eggs, four or five in number, are of a greenish brown colour, mottled all over, but mostly at the large end, with darker spots of the same colour. They are very subject to variety, and it would be difficult to give a typical example of its egg. Some are nearly as large, and of the same hue, as those of the Magpie, but can never be mistaken—at least by the Ornithologist—for those of any other bird. The nest and eggs of this bird are well known to almost every one, and yet I have met with individuals who, having resided all their lives in the country, have pointed it out to me as a rare and curious nest. I once knew it to build in a wood, on the stump of an elm tree, close to the ground. The spot was well concealed by the young and flourishing shoots of the tree, and indeed the long grass reached almost as high as the site of the nest. It is nothing uncommon for it to build in outhouses, amongst THE GARDEN OUZEL. 33 heaps of pea sticks or dahlia stakes, or if these be left in the open air, they are almost certain to be occupied by a pair of these birds. On one occasion, I remember to have seen its nest in such a situation, with five eggs. I visited the nest every morning, and was surprised to find, that each day one egg disappeared. On the fourth day, the bird continued sitting, though only one egg remained, and, on the fifth day, the nest was filled with bones! The difficulty was now solved, The rats had feasted on the contents of the nest, as long as anything eatable was left, and then converted it into a store house. A second instance of this has fallen under my notice, with this difference, that the eggs were demolished in a single day, instead of five. The Garden Ouzel is one of those birds which assists—at least with its voice—in scaring away an enemy from the nests of other birds, and especially from that of the Garden Thrush. Thus, if you have the curiosity to peep into the nest of the Garden Thrush, you are assailed not only by the cries of the owners of the tenement, but by those of the Garden Ouzel also, and many smaller birds. In summer it subsists on insects, worms, slugs, cherries, red currants, and peas, and is therefore a constant inhabitant of the kitchen garden. But, though .it commits considerable depredations on the fruit trees, and more especially in very hot summers,* yet I think it will be found, that the benefits it confers on the gardener, fully atone for the fruit which it devours in time of need. In winter, its food is the same as that of the other British Turdine, namely, the berries of the hawthorn, holly, ivy, blackberry, mountain ash, &c., to all of which I have observed it to be extremely partial. In very severe weather, it so far overcomes its natural shyness, as to pluck the berries of the mountain ash, close to our windows, or immediately before the house. It has already been observed, * Mr. BrEr’s remarks, at p. 24, apply equally to this bird and to the Garden Thrush (Turdus hortensis), D 34 THE GARDEN OUZEL. | -that the mountain ash may be seen loaded with berries, till very late in the year, when the tree is situated in the immediate vicinity of houses, while those in the woods, are despoiled of their crop long before the end of summer. But few trees, whatever be their situation, retain their beautiful and orna- mental produce, after the frost and snow have fairly set in. For, while the snow remains on the ground, such wild berries as the woods and hedges afford, form the sole support of the Turdide or Thrush family. These gone, the Thrushes and Ouzels frequently perish in great numbers, or are willing to beg for food at the parlour window, along with House Sparrows, Robin Redbreasts, Hedge Dunnocks, Common Gallinules, and other birds. But the Garden Ouzel is re- markably hardy, and only falls a victim to the weather in extremely severe winters. According to Muniz, there is a popular notion—doubtless an error—that some Garden Ouzels remain in sulky celibacy throughout the year. But so far from this being the case, I am of opinion that they pair for life. At least I have ascertained, beyond a doubt, that many of them remain in pairs throughout the winter. And nothing is commoner than to observe the male and female together during the whole year. This bird is often kept in cages, on account of its song, and is frequently taught to whistle tunes; but, however perfectly it may know its lesson, such artificial strains can never equal its natural notes. Instances have been known of its crowing like a cock in its wild state, clearly indicating a full develop- ment of the organ of imitation. I have never myself heard it crow like a cock, but have frequently known it to cackle as a hen does after laying, especially in the neighbourhood of farms, and places where great numbers of Fowls are kept. Varieties more or less white frequently occur. I have seen a female pied with black and white, which was with egg when. it was shot. Sevpy says, that early in November, immense numbers of THE GARDEN OUZEL. 35 Garden Ouzels “ make their appearance upon our coasts, from more northern countries. They remain but a few days to recruit, and then resume their flight in a south-westerly direction.” My indefatigable correspondent, Mr. Buytu, has made the following interesting remarks with regard to the plumage of this bird :—‘‘ A male Garden Ouzel of the preceding year, though coal-black everywhere else, invariably has the wing primaries brown. The female varies considerably ; her beak never becomes more thantwo-thirds yellow, and some are much darker coloured than others, being almost wholly black. Some have the breast confused and smudgy, while in others it is pale, with dark, well defined spots, resembling those of the female Garden Thrush. In nestling plumage, the males are darker, and generally have their markings better defined than the females.”’ The Garden Ouzel is very partial to the borders of lakes and slow-moving, muddy streams, where it finds an abundant supply of its favourite food. It is also very fond of washing, and its plumage, though black, is kept remarkably clean and glossy. There are few spots better adapted for observing its habits than a small and muddy stream, bordering on, or flowing through a wood, especially if there be a thick hedgerow close to the stream. In such a hedge it not unfrequently builds its nest. The young are hatched by the middle of April, and at least two broods are reared in the year. My valued friend, Dr. Cuartes LiverPooL, to whom I am indebted for many interesting communications on British Orni- thology, informs me that he possesses two Garden Ouzels, in nestling plumage, pure white, and a third with a little black on the top of the head, and also on the breast and wings. He says :—‘‘ These curious specimens of white black-birds, were sent me some years ago by a friend, who shot them soon after they were able to fly. They all belonged to the same brood, but their parents were of the same coal-black colour as the rest of the species.” D 2 36 THE RING OUZEL. In common parlance, this is the blackbird. In a list of British birds, in the Analyst, it is called the ‘* Yellowbill Ouzel.”” But as many others of the genus possess strikingly yellow beaks, I have thought proper to give it the name of Garden Ouzel, as the least exceptionable I can at present think of. Ring Ovuzet, Merula torquata, Wi. Joyously From stone to stone, the Ouzel flits along, Startling the Linnet from the hawthorn bough; While on the elm-tree, overshadowing deep, The low-roofed cottage white, the blackbird* sits, Cheerily hymning the awakened year. Blackwood's Magazine. SyNonyMs.—Merula torquata, WILL. Orn.—Briss. Orn.—SELEY’s Br. Orn. —Turdus torquatus, LINN. Syst.—LATH. Ind. Orn.—Ring Ouzel, WILL. Orn. —LATH. Syn.—PENN. Br. Z00l.—BEw. Br. Birds.—SELBY’s Br. Orn. Analyst, No. 13. Tue Ring Ouzel is a regular periodical visitant of Britain, arriving in spring, and departing in autumn, generally about the latter end of October. Its haunts and habits are entirely distinct from those of the rest of the Thrush family,—so much so, that in a classification founded on haunts and habits, it is much to be doubted whether it would gain admittance into the Turdide at all. But systems based on any one character, f as those of Linnaus, Cuvier, Vieritot, &c., necessarily con- tain many flagrant errors. A system, to be natural, must take into consideration, not only the bill or the claws, but also the shape of the wing and tail, the mode of flight, the haunts and general habits, and the internal anatomy. Thus, taking all these things into account, we shall find that the Ring Ouzel * An erroneous name for the Garden Ouzel. + See the Ornithologist’s Text Book, p, 29. THE RING OUZEL. 37 ranges perfectly naturally in the family Turdide, sub-family Turdine, and genus Merula. In the level parts of the country, the Ring Ouzel is not met with, but it abounds in all the mountainous and rocky dis- tricts, where it breeds, and hence its popular names, ‘‘ Rock Ouzel”’? and ‘Tor Ouzel.” In the south of England it does not occur, except in the wilder and more uncultivated districts of Cornwall. It is most plentiful in Wales and in many parts of Scotland, on barren heaths and stony grounds. Like the Chats (Savicola), it is remarkably fond of perching on rocks and stones, and here it generally pours forth a few desultory, but not disagreeable notes, which are often com- pared to those of the Missel Thrush. I have seen the bird near Dovedale, where it appears to be tolerably abundant. But, from its extreme shyness—in which it resembles the Gar- den Ouzel—I have been unable to hear its song. Its alarm note is very similar to that of the Garden Thrush and Garden Ouzel, and on this account, I mistook it for the latter bird, when first I met with it. But it differs so widely, in every other habit, from the rest of the family, that no Ornithologist could possibly confound the two species. When seen close, the patch of pure white on the throat distinguishes it at once from all other British birds, even to the most casual observer. It-is better formed for flight than the Garden Ouzel, but, from what I have observed, I do not think it uses its wings much during its sojourn with us. I have never found its nest—though I have seen both nest and eggs—but, according to our most accurate authors, it is situated on a steep bank, and concealed by such scanty her- bage as the situation may chance to afford—either “‘a stunted bush, or a tuft of grass or heath; sometimes also in the cleft, or in the shelf of a rock. In form and texture it resembles that of the Garden Ouzel, and the eggs are very similar to those of the same bird, both in size and colour.” It is said to be very clamorous if any one approaches its nest, uttering loud cries, and endeavouring to lure the intruder from it, in this re- 38 THE RING OUZEL. sembling most other ground builders, as the Grous, Lark, Duck, Pheasant, Partridge, Lapwing, &c. In autumn it passes to the southward, where it spends the winter months. Like the rest of the Thrush family, it is a very handsome bird, and of a lively and restless disposition. It is probable that it would not thrive so well in confinement, as the lowland Tur- dide, though I am not aware that the experiment has been made in this country. BrcustEIn informs us, in his admir- able Cage Birds,* that it will live from six to ten years in con- finement. Dr. LiverPoot informs me that he has frequently met with the Ring Ouzel in the neighbourhood of Buxton, and that he has found its nest on the barren uplands which abound in the vicinity of that place. The neighbourhood of Buxton is also favourable to the Rivulet Dipper, and Pied Flycatcher, but the latter occurs very rarely in any part of the country. I do not know that the Ring Ouzel is much subject to variety. * This highly interesting and useful work was translated into English last year (1835), by Professor RENNIE. Every one who keeps birds in cages, fe possess a copy of this excellent volume. THE FALLOW CHAT. 39 Fam. IV.—SYLVIADA,,* Via. Sus-ram. I.—SAXICOLINA. Genus SAXICOLA, Becust. CHAT. Fattow Cuat, Sazicola enanthe, Becust. Young dwellers in Glamorgan’s vale, Who listen to my woodland tale, For you, where’er your footsteps rove, . ©’er moor or mountain, mead or grove, May some sweet wild bird hovering near, Your course with gentle music cheer! Minstrelsy of the Woods. SYNONYMS.—Motacilla cenanthe, Linn. Syst.—Sylvia cenanthe, LATH. Ind. Orn.—Saxicola cnanthe, Becust. Naturg.Deut.—SELBY’s Br. Orn.—Wheatear, SeLBy’s Br. Orn.—Whiterumped Wheatear, STEPH. Gen. Zool.—Wheatear Warbler, PENN. Br. Zool.—Fallow Chat, FLEM. Br. Anim.—Wheatear Chat- Muptx’s Feath. Tribes.—Fallow Wheatear, Analyst. Tue Chats form a very interesting and well defined genus, but are perhaps less familiar to ordinary observers than any others of the Warbler family, save in those parts where they are most abundant. They are all inhabitants rather of the unfrequented heathy moor, than tenants of the woods and cultivated pastures; and the Fallow Chat, especially, is seldom found elsewhere. In my immediate neighbourhood, I have not very often met with it, but in the more rocky and elevated parts of Derbyshire, and also on extensive commons, bleak moors, and open fields, it is very abundant. Nowhere does it occur so plentifully, however, as on the downs of Sussex, Surrey, and Dorsetshire, where immense numbers are annually caught, by the country people, in nooses, brick traps, &c. It * I pass over the sub-fam. Myiotherine in the Turdide, as the Rivulet Dipper and Golden Oriole—the only British birds in the group—are either little noted for their vocal powers, or because I have not much personal acquaintance with their habits. It would have been easy to have compiled an apparently original description from books, but this I leave to RENNIE, and such like. 40D THE FALLOW CHAT. is a common custom with visitors to these places, to take the bird out of the trap, and leave a penny in its stead. The Fallow Chat also affects church yards, ruined ‘castles, and other desolate places, frequented by Owls, Bats, &c. It is common, too, in those partsof Derbyshire, where stone walls are used instead of hedges, and appears remarkably fond of perching on anything of a stony or rocky nature. It occurs throughout Britain, but is somewhat locally distributed. Frequently also it is met with in extensive fields and fallow lands—whence its name—but these are not so peculiarly its haunts as moors, downs, &c. Here it makes its nest, under the shelter of a stone, or in the hole of an old wall; in the latter locality, I have found it more than once, even in the flat and uninteresting part of Derbyshire in which I at present reside. According to Sexsy, it breeds in rabbit burrows in the southern counties, and “on the dry sand-banks that edge various parts of our coasts.”” In the midland counties, I have never known it build its nest in rabbit burrows, though I have very frequently met with the bird in the neighbourhood of such conveniences. The Fallow Chat is the shyest of the genus, and I have always found it extremely averse to the approach of any one of the human race. But when it has a family to provide for, it loses much of its natural shyness, and then is the time to observe its habits. The nest consists of moss and grass, mixed with wool, and lined with hair, or, perhaps, as fre- quently, with rabbit’s fur. Some authors mention that it is lined with wool, but in the nests I havs examined, I have always known it to be horse hair or rabbit’s fur. I have no doubt, however, but that in other districts, and especially in wild, stony moors, it may use wool for the lining of its nest. Indeed, it is impossible to state positively what are the ma- terials of the nest of any bird, merely from seeing those which are found in any particular part of the country. The eggs are from four to six in number, and of a pale blueish green colour. On one occasion, I found seven eggs in a THE FALLOW CHAT. 41 nest, but this I consider very rare, a second instance having never come under my notice. Its food consists entirely of small insects, slugs, worms, and snails, of which, like the rest of the Sylviade, it destoys immense numbers. Its note resembles the sound produced by striking two stones together, which might almost induce you to suppose that. it actually is engaged in breaking the stones on which it is perched. It closely resembles one of the numerous notes of the Robin Redbreast. The habits of this bird, like those of the other Sazicoline, are shy and solitary, and it never associates in flocks, being found, for the most part, singly or in pairs. Nor does it ever approach the dwellings of man, but is altogether a bird of the uncultivated waste. The young birds do not differ ma- terially from the adults. The Fallow Chat appears in the middle of March, and departs so late as the middle of October, thus sojourning with us seven months out of the twelve.— Mr. Brytu says:—“‘I suppose the name ‘ Wheatear,’ was originally applied to the Stone Chat, from its note (wheet-jur, wheet, jur-jur), and that the term ‘Stone Chat’ was first affixed to the Wheatear (Fallow Chat), from the noise it makes while hopping about the stones. At any rate, these terms are, in many parts of the country, inversely applied to what they are in books, which bears out my supposition.” wr ranma arene rrmeneenrpncemmstneemonne 42 THE WHIN CHAT. Wun Cuat, Savicola rubetra, Brecust. When morning dawns with radiant light, Chasing the shadows of the night, Waking to life each warbling bird, Then let our cheerful hymns be heard; When evening comes with soften’d beam, Let praise be still our grateful theme. Minstrelsy of the Woods. SyNnonyMS.—Motacilla rubetra, LINN. Syst.—Sylvia rubetra, LATH. Ind. Orn.— Saxicola rubetra, Mey. Tasch. Deut.—Whin Chat, Mont. Orn. Dict.—SELBY’S Br. Orn.—Analyst, No. 13. Tuts is also a summer visitant, but appears about a month later than the Fallow Chat, seldom arriving on our coasts till the middle of April, and is not dispersed over the country till the end of that month, or, in backward seasons, not until the beginning of May. In the midland counties, it may confidently be expected by the 20th of April. Like the rest of the sub- family, it is of a solitary, unsociable disposition, and is said by authors to equal its congeners in shyness. According to my experience, however, I have found it remarkably tame and easy to approach. When riding along a road adjoining an extensive field or common, it will frequently approach within a few feet of you, hopping about the road with the utmost non- chalance, and apparently without the slightest alarm. It is wholly devoid of the lively expression of the Fallow Chat, both as regards plumage, and general appearance, being, in fact, rather a sluggish and inactive bird. Sometimes it will sit on the top of a hedge or whin bush for an hour together, look- ing half stupid, half melancholy. And then, as if astonished at its own inactivity, begins to make up for lost time, either pouring forth its low but sweet strains, or assisting in the household concerns. Srxsy says he has traced it pretty far into Scotland, but we may suppose that it does not extend so THE WHIN CHAT. 43 far to the north as the Fallow Chat, as it is not included in Low’s useful Fauna Orcadensis. It is not so eminently a bird of the stony waste, as the preceding species, but seldom ap- proaches the habitation of man, inhabiting commons abound- ing with furze or whin bushes. Here it builds its nest, either in the long grass, or ina low and thick furze bush, and I once found it in a hedge, close to the road. It consists of dry grass and moss, lined with very fine dry grass, and occasionally, with horse hair. Wool, or the fur of rabbits, never forma part of its composition. Now, although nothing is easier than to know whereabouts the nest is situated, yet it is extremely difficult to ascertain its exact site. The male generally takes his stand on the top of an adjoining bush, or hedge, and amuses his mate with his song. If you approach him, he will dart down into the bush, not to reappear until your final departure; but that is not the bush in which the nest is built. This is usually so carefully concealed, that you may frequently search long and closely, and after all depart without finding it. The difficulty, too, is increased by the habit the female has of entering the bush underneath, and thus stealthily creeping to itsnest. This habit I have observed so often, that it has become quite familiar tome. The eggs, five or six in number, but more commonly the latter, are of a clear and beautiful blucish green. There is nothing remarkable about its song, but it is sweet and melodious, though desultory, and uttered in rather a hurried manner. Its strains are, for the most part, uttered from the top of a hedge, or low bush—never from a stone or heap of stones, like the Fallow Chat—but it occasionally leaves its perch, and attempts to “‘ gain the skies,” in the manner of that ineffably sweet songster, the Wood Lark. The essay, however, is but a feeble one, and it seems unable either to remain on the wing for a long time together, or to mount high, while singing. Sometimes, also, it hawks for flies, like the Flycatchers (Mus- cicapa) and others, taking its stand on a low bush, darting at its prey and returning again to its perch. But itis by no 44 THE WHIN CHAT. means so well fitted for this manceuvre as the Flycatchers, being what Muvie would term somewhat ‘‘a dumpy bird.” For its size, and considering the brisk and blithe expression of most of the Warbler family, it is certainly rather slow and inactive in its movements, and is wholly unable to thread the interstices of the hedges and bushes, with the rapidity of the Garrulous Fauvet, Hedge Dunnock, and many others. It likes, in fact, to be in motion as little as possible, and does not use its wings much. Thus, except when disturbed, it is content to remain nearly in the same spot the whole day. Its food consists of small slugs, snails, worms, and flies, for which it searches most actively early in the morning, and again towards dusk in the evening, taking its ease in the intermediate time. This holds good in the middle of summer especially, but in chilly, rainy weather, it may be observed foraging the live- long day. Montagu mentions that the Whin Chat rarely occurs in Devonshire and Cornwall, counties, it may be observed, which are never visited by that prince of the British choristers of the woods, the Brake Nightingale. I believe, however, that the Whin Chat is plentifully, though not very equally, distributed, over every other part of the kingdom. Its family cares over, it takes its leave of us in October. Brwicxk supposes that it re- mains in the southern counties, but in this he is certainly mis- taken. Neither Serpy, Montacu, nor Mup1e—high autho- rities in such matters—state the time of its departure. [ should be inclined to say, the middle of October, but it is not very regular in its time of departure, and appears to be much in- fluenced by the weather. In very mild autumns, I have met with it so late as the beginning of November. My correspon- dent, Mr. H. Bartow, of Cambridge, informs me, that during the remarkably mild winter of 1833, he observed the Whin Chat hopping about, near some furze bushes, on a common, in his neighbourhood. He supposes that these individuals must have wintered in Britain, as he observed them each time near the same spot. They wereas brisk and lively asin midsummer, THE STONE CHAT. 45 and perhaps more so, being incited by the cold to activity. They were never heard to sing. Mr. Bartow remarks :—* It is somewhat singular, that though I visited the common almost every clear day in January and February, yet I never observed the Whin Chat but twice, and each time singly. First, on the 15th of January, and afterwards, on the 20th of the following month. These two individuals (were they two?—perhaps the same bird might have been observed twice) must have spent the winter in Bri- tain, but where can they have quartered themselves, and why did they not remain in their summer haunts ?”’ It is probable that they resorted to the warm and sheltered downs of the southern counties, where it is supposed that a few remain every year, after the departure of their brethren. Stone Cuat, Sazicola rubicola, Becust. Bird of the desert, I too have a song, A hymn of joy, as I travel along: The fairest flowers that my pathway adorn, Spring up in the shade cfsome rankling thorn. Strains of thanksgiving and praise be mine, For blessings more lofty and lasting than thine. My spirit is glad while I listen to thee; There are songs in the wilderness also for me. Minstrelsy of the Woods. Synonyms.—Motacilla rubicola, LINN. Syst.—Sylvia rubicola, LATH. Ind. Orn.— Saxicola rubicola, Becust. Naturg. Deut.—SELByY’s Br. Orn.—Stone Chat, SELBY’s Br. Orn.—MuptIkr’s Feath. Tribes.—Analyst, No. 13. CLosELy as the Stone Chat resembles the other British members of the genus Savicola, in most of its habits, and also in general appearance, yet it differs in this particular, that it remains in Britain throughout the year, whereas the others are periodical visitants, arriving in spring, and departing in autumn. Like the Whin Chat, it frequents open commons, 46 THE STONE CHAT. abounding with furze. It is not so handsome a bird as the Fallow Chat, but has a much livelier and brisker expression than the Whin Chat. I believe it is met with throughout the kingdom, but, like the rest of the genus, always remains single, or in pairs. I am inclined to favour the supposition of Monraceu and Sexsy, that a partial migration takes place in autumn. The latter Ornithologist is of opinion, that the young birds leave their summer haunts, on the approach of winter, while the adults remain in the same spot throughout the year. Be this as it may, certain it is, that many of the Stone Chats, in the midland counties, do disappear in winter. It is probable, however, that they never leave the country entirely, but merely resort to the warm and sheltered downs in the southern counties, where they pass the inclement seasons. In Derbyshire, I have chiefly met with the Stone Chat near Boilston, and likewise in the neighbourhood of Bentley Carr. It is abundant also in many parts of Staffordshire, frequenting extensive moors and furzy commons, where it breeds. Its habits are extremely similar to those of the Whin Chat, and the haunts of the two species are nearly the same. In some parts of Derbyshire, I have heard it called the ‘ Furze Bunting,” though its habits and general appearance certainly do not warrant the appellation. But the Corn Bunting (Emberiza miliaria) which is the Bunting with the vulgar, is not met with in my neighbourhood, and therefore, I suppose, to supply the vacancy, the Stone Chat comes in for the name of Bunting! But we may make great allowances for the errors of the vulgar, when we find scientific Ornithologists upholding such names as “ Goat-Sucker,” ‘‘ Hedge-Sparrow,”’ ‘* Reed Wren,” and others equally absurd and erroneous. Such designations are not only unscientific, but they serve to per- petuate vulgar errors, and should, therefore, never find a place in the catalogue of the philosophic Ornithologist. The song of the Stone Chat is very similar to that of the THE STONE CHAT. 47 Whin Chat, being soft, rather low, and sweet. But al- most any notes would sound sweet in those bleak moors, which are the peculiar haunts of this bird. In my opinion, there is little intrinsic merit in the desultory strains of this bird, and it is probable, that were it brought into competition with the Hedge Dunnock, or any of the humbler songsters of more frequented places, its song would be considered but a sorry performance. It sings either perched on the top of a furze bush, or hovering over it on the wing. The latter habit is more frequently observed in this bird than in the Whin Chat, but neither of them either mount high, or remain long on the wing, while singing. It pairs early in March, and commences building towards the end of that month; and from the time of pairing to the hatching of the eggs, it makes itself particularly conspicuous, either pouring forth its melody from the top of the bush, or, as before mentioned, hovering over it, in the manner of the Whitethroated Fauvet. The nest is situated near the bottom of the furze, and occasionally, though very seldom, in a hedge, adjoining a furzy common. It is composed of moss and dry grass, lined with horsehair and feathers. It is not so artfully concealed as that of its near neighbour—both in systems and in haunts—the Whin Chat, nor am I aware that it approaches its tenement in the stealthy manner mentioned in the descrip- tion of that bird. But the nests of furze-builders are always more orless difficult to find, and the birds themselves more or less fond of seclusion. The eggs, generally five or six in number, are of about the same size, shape and colour as those of the Whin Chat, but differ in being speckled, at the larger end, with minute spots of a reddish brown colour. About two years ago (I do not remember the day, but I shall never forget the circumstance), a labourer, knowing that I was curious in ornithological matters, informed me that he had found a Bunting’s nest. Now, as the Corn Bunting never occurs in my immediate neighbourhood, and as no other bird 48 THE STONE CHAT. of the genus here gets the name “ Bunting,’’* I was in hopes that the nest of the Corn Bunting had actually been discovered. On arriving at the spot, however, all my hopes vanished, for the nest proved to be that of the Stone Chat! The labourer who conducted me to the place, informed me that he had always known the bird by the name “‘ Bunting;’” and I have since frequently heard it so called. The food of the Stone Chat is the same as that of the preceding species,—worms, small slugs, and insects. After the latter, it frequently darts into the air, often uttering at the same time a shrill scream. When it catches its prey in this manner, it perches, for the most part, on the top sprig of a hedge, or furze bush. For some time after the young leave the nest, the whole family, consisting of father and mother and four or five of their off- spring, may be seen together, but, when the young birds have arrived at ‘“‘ years of discretion,” each departs its own way, and they are afterwards only observed singly. * The Derbyshire folks call the Yellow Bunting the ‘* Gold Finch,’’ and the Reed Bunting here goes by the name of ‘‘ Reed Sparrow.” The latter designa- tion isfar from being confined to my neighbourhood. THE ROBIN REDBREAST. 49 Genus RUBECULA, Briss. REDBREAST. Rosin Repsreast, Rubecula familiaris, Buytu. Come, sweetest of the feather’d throng ! And soothe me with thy plaintive song; Come to my cot, devoid of fear, No danger shall await thee here :— No prowling cat, with whisker’d face, Approaches this sequester’d place. Dr. JENNER.* SyNonyms.—Motacilla rubecula, Linn. Syst.—Sylvia rubecula, LATH. Ind. Orn.—Erythaca rubecula, Swarnson.—Rubecula familiaris, BLyTH in Field. Nat. Mag.—Analyst, No. 13.—Redbreast Warbler, PENN. Br. Z00l.—STEPH. Gen. Zool.—Robin Redbreast, Analyst, No. 13. Few of the warbler family enjoy a better reputation, or are more protected by the lords of the creation, than the Robin Redbreast ; and yet, perhaps, few have less title to our respect, unless, indeed, excessive pugnacity, and the most deadly ani- mosity towards each other, be recommendations. But the evil dispositions of this bird are almost wholly unnoticed by the ordinary observer, and I believe that few persons, residing in the country, are aware of its quarrelsome habits, so entirely disregarded, are even the commonest, occurrences in nature, save by the professed Naturalist! To the vulgar, the bright side is alone apparent. And the Robin Redbreast has certainly many redeeming qualities, and has ever been a popular fa- vourite in the countries it inhabits, from its familiarity with man, during the inclement seasons. It is resident in Britain throughout the year, and long after the summer visitants have winged their airy course to warmer climes, and left the groves * These lines, and the continuation of them, which, for want of space, I am compelled to omit, appear to me to be characterized by that simplicity and love of Nature, that was ever observable in the immortal discoverer of vaccination. E r 50 THE ROBIN REDBREAST. almost songless, the Robin Redbreast cheers us during the driz- zling rains of ‘‘ semi-suicidal November”’ and the dreary blasts of stern winter, with its soft, mellifluous, and melancholy strains. In summer, when the woods resound with the notes of a thousand voices, the humble song of our little chorister is little noticed, and still less admired; but, in lack of other music, its notes sound remarkably sweet, and in autumn espe- cially, they seem to ‘ breathe a delightful melancholy around.” When the frost begins to relent on the ground, and the ice to melt, the Robin Redbreast gradually withdraws itself from the hospitable mansion, and the humble threshold of the cot- tager, and betakes itself to the budding woods, where it joins the vernal chorus. It now loses much of its familiarity with man, and its habits become fully as shy and secluded as the rest of the sylvan choristers. Still, however, though it seldom enters our houses during the summer months, yet it evinces its attachment for the dwellings of man, by frequenting, chiefly, such woods as are in the neighbourhood of them. Thus, if you enter the heart of an extensive wood, you are not likely to meet with it; but as you advance to its skirts, and especially where there are houses, you are sure to be saluted with its ‘“‘ wood-notes wild.””? Like the House Sparrow, it is not met with in uninhabited places, bleak moors, extensive commons, &c., but occurs, and that plentifully, near the dwell- ings of man, Thus far, certainly, it has claims on our protection; but when, on the other hand, we look to its pugnacious and re- lentless habits, its revengeful and vindictive propensities, one would almost feel inclined to close one’s door against it in the time of need. The whole summer is spent in quarrelling, and this warfare is carried on without regard tu either sex or age. Like game cocks, the young Redbreasts begin to fight as soon as they leave the nest; nor do they pay more respect to their own relations, nothing being commoner than to see the adults pursuing even their own offspring, with unrelenting ardour, amid the very bushes perchance, where, but a few days ago, THE ROBIN REDBREAST. 51 they had been so fondly cherished and protected in the nest. So much for the parental affection of this apparently lovely and innocent bird. But, kind reader, if you will only have patience, I can tell you some more tales about your favourite : —tales, too, which you might verify any day with your own eyes, if you would just take the trouble of strolling through the grove adjoining your house, in summer. My esteemed correspondent, Mr. Briyru, says he has seen two of these birds fight in his garden until one was killed ; and though I have never known their battles come to that ex- tremity, yet I have, on many occasions, observed them skir- mishing with such relentless ferocity, and unabated ardour, that had I not interposed, fatal consequences must inevitably have ensued to one party. On one occasion, especially, I re- member to have found two of these birds engaged in such glorious conflict, under a laurel bush, that neither of the com- batants observed my approach; or at all events they heeded it not, and both of them fell into the hands of the “ prying Naturalist.” On putting them into a cage, capacious enough to have held a dozen birds of a more peaceful nature, to my no small surprise they renewed the combat as fiercely as ever. | now released one of my prisoners, and each of them instantly poured forth its song in defiance of the other—the one within the wires, the other at full liberty. The next day I set my other captive at liberty, and, on the evening of the same day, found the champions again at their post, fighting each other “ tooth and nail.”” I now separated them for third and last time. This is what one would call carrying the spirit of revenge rather too far. The organ of Destructiveness must be very fully developed in this bird. I have often taken advantage of the extreme pugnacity of the Robin Redbreast, for the capturing others of its species. The method alluded to is as follows :—if you tie a Robin Redbreast, by the leg, inside asmall cage, and leave the door open, many minutes will not elapse before another of its kind, attracted by its fluttering, approaches the cage, hops round it two or three E 2 52 THE ROBIN REDBREAST. times, uttering its note of menace, and, lastly, boldly rushes into the cage, and enters into close combat with the unfor- tunate captive. How the battle might terminate, if the birds were left to themselves, I know not, but, suffice it to say, that the new comer may be captured, and, in his turn, be tied to the cage, as a lure for its brethren. But it is unnecessary even to use a cage for this purpose. The birds may be tied, as soon as caught, to a stake, or anything that is at hand. For the Robin Redbreast, when intent on destroying one of its fellow- creatures, is little mindful of any danger that may threaten itself. Whether or not that dreadful enemy to birds, the wily cat, would have any influence on them at such times, I am not aware, but, so far as I have observed, man has not. It may also be captured by smearing the edges of a vessel filled with hemp or canary seed, with birdlime, but this is apt to soil its delicate plumage to such a degree, that the bird is scarcely “‘ fit to be seen’”’ afterwards. If it were worth while, how- ever, it might be wiped off with sand ordry earth. There are many other ways of capturing the Robin Redbreast, but these it is unnecessary to detail, for, whatever excuse there may be for keeping other birds in cages, there surely can be none for con- fining this, as it may be both seen and heard at all times and all seasons, with very little trouble-—While it requires the enthusiasm of a Witson, an AupuBoN, a Montagu, or a MupItE, to investigate the habits of the feathered inhabitants of the rock, the mountain, the swamp, and the river, the ways of our familiar songster are always open to the view of the most careless observer. And this it is which has caused it to become so general a favourite, in all the countries it visits or inhabits. The song of the Robin Redbreast is not very loud, but is remarkable for its sweet, soft, and melancholy expression. In summer, as I have before observed, it is little noticed, but in autumn it is peculiarly delightful, though I am certain of the truth of SeLBy’s supposition, that the notes which are heard in autumn and winter, proceed from the throats of the THE ROBIN REDBREAST. 53 young of the year. Nor dol ever remember to have heard the adult bird singing, in its natural state, during the in- clement seasons. But when confined to the house, or in a cage, both old and young wiil carol away “‘right merrily.” In sweetness and softness, I think the song of the Robin Redbreast is unexcelled by any of our other sylvan choristers, though, as a whole, it is surpassed by many. Witness, for instance— leaving the Brake Nightingale, the “leader of the vernal cho- rus” out of the question—the ethereal strains of the Garden Fauvet, the Blackcapt Fauvet, the Wood Lark, and many others. But none of these, no, not even the Brake Nightingale itself, possesses that ineffably sweet expression, which we must pronounce to be peculiar to our humble favourite. The localities in which the nest is found, are very numerous. Authors mention, that it commonly chooses the roots of a bush or tree, in well shaded woods. But I have seen it, at least as frequently, in holes of walls covered with ivy, in ivy-clad trees, in the thatched roofs of outhouses, and occasionally, though very seldom, at the top of a low bush. The nest con- sists, for the most part, of moss and sticks, and sometimes oak leaves, exteriorly, and is lined with horse hair, and, accord- ing to some, with feathers. The latter, I think, I have never known to enter into its composition, but I cannot now speak positively on this matter. The eggs are from five to seven in number, of a dusky ash colour, mottled with reddish brown spots. This is the usual tint, but I have seen specimens of a pure white, and others of a tawny red colour. They are not very subject to variety, and I consider those mentioned above to be of extremely rare occurrence. For figures of the egg of this bird, I refer my readers to HEw1tson’s beautiful and cor- rect British Oology, No. 24, for November, 1835. The Robin Redbreast conceals its nest with great care, and this is especially the case with regard to the grove-builders. It is at all times a difficult matter to discover it, and indeed the only way to succeed, is to watch the female to the nest. For this purpose you must, when you know whereabouts the nest 54 THE ROBIN REDBREAST. is, dig up a small piece of soil with a spade, or place a few worms in an open spot. ‘Then carefully concealing yourself behind a thick bush, the parents will shortly be attracted, by the delicious fare you have laid for them, and will carry off the greater part to the nest ; by tracing them with your eye, you will generally succeed in your purpose. Of course this can only hold good in cases where the young are hatched, though sometimes, when the female is sitting, the male will carry food to her. Ina few instances, I have known the nest to be so successfully concealed, that, even when I had observed the female fly from the nest, I have, after a long and close search been obliged to go away without finding it; and have discovered it a few days afterwards, by mere chance, when strolling near the spot. Those birds which build in the woods are always much shyer than the wall breeders, and those which make their nests near houses, often choose a very open and unsequestered situation. The structure itself, also, is less warm and neat, as the shelter, afforded by a hole in a wall or thatched roof, sufficiently atones for all such defects. soucam Ky; Marsh Reedling ----+-++--++-+++-+ 86 PATS PGi oleic ors cle «one's o.eielelve cieisce 176 Meadow Pipit -.-----++++-+---+-+- 229 Mealy Linnet-.----+-+-++-++++-+- 382 WVETSSCLCETUSID ci cccciccccevcedcens 1 Page. Mountain Linnet-----+----+-+--- 377 Ortolan Bunting AAPA AA Arn Ce 327 Pied Wagtail-------+--++-+----++- 208 Pine Crossbill -----2-2..s0+scece 394 Pine Thickbill +-----++---++++--+- 395 Pippin Crossbill ----------+-+++-- 391 Redpoll Linnet------ PEPRARARE CAS a7)! Reed Bunting ----+-+-+++++++-+- 304 Redeyed Whinling --------+----> 118 Redwing Thrush------+---++++++ 26 Ring QUIZ] << oo csiciv cis cs cece scene 36 Robin Redbreast ----+-++++++++°> 49 Rock Pipit --+++++++-+++++9+> ens 996 Rusty Longspur --------+-+++++- 282 Sedge Reedling ------- Po eriee coieiers 78 Sibilous Brakehopper------------ 73 Siskin Goldwing ------+-++-+++-- 358 Shore Lark---+e+eesseecteseereees 271 Sky Lark. .-++e+sseeeree sere rece 245 Snowy Longspur Slasins oemiela.clercimore 975 Spring Oatear -----++s+++s+s7+° 219 Stone Chat-.--cesccsececcsecccns 45 Spotted Starling ---++--+--+-*++": 404 Tawny Lavrock ---+-+++++++--*": 242 Tithy’s Redstart -------- aalaiorersiee 68 Tree Pipit --+-+---++-+++++° oes 0 aD Tree Redstart ----esesssees aiic00 OO! Tree Sparrow «-+---:- eos sisice me oup Oe: Whitewinged Crossbill --++--++*> 394 Whitethroated Fauvet -------: -- 110 Whin Chat. .----cecccccscsccsees 42 Whin Linnet---.--+-ecee> ances nese Willow Warbler ---++---=+-> sine stove 132 Wood Warbler -e+seeeeseeeeeeee> 129 Wood Lark. -c-cccccccccccccccces 259 Yellow Bunting --+-+-+++++++++* 292 LONDON: LEIGHTON AND MURPHY, PRINTERS, Johnson’s Court, Fleet Street. WORKS IN THE PRESS; AND BOOKS PUBLISHED BY JOHN W. PARKER, WEST STRAND: LONDON AGENT FOR THE BIBLES, PRAYER-BOOKS, &e. PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS OF CAMBRIDGE. NATURAL THEOLOGY considered chiefly with reference to LORD BROUGHAM’S DISCOURSE on that subject. By THOMAS TURTON, D.D., Regius Professor of Divinity in the University of Cambridge, and Dean of Peterborough. 8s. THE CAMBRIDGE GREEK AND ENGLISH TESTA- MENT; The Greek, from the Third Edition of Stephens, and the English, from the Authorised Version, being given in parallel columns on the same page. 8s. 6d. 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BS 3 . $ SN " : at iS : Sec ieee SS ‘ \S ae eat me a f wee DOB ARN | PR IR IEE 4, = S : NY S x RR SOS SENS QO ARRAS WANS NYE AE ~~ SX RSS: ESN SENS SN " = : SS See Fe SN ROY CRE NESS ~ CRY Wi mr ¢ ERA FEIN S ANY i ; TRS SK SS . EAN Sia * ., is S iN ‘Sy : ®. : a \ ma ae Ate: IS SSN SS SEEN SONS ar ES \ SE SNS > NY = \ CSS. PS FRR hs os Pe NS AS SS | eos SSN RD SY ‘ ERS ISSR NE eee NES i.