bread soaked in water for about half an hour, then squeezed dry and put into a stone mortar with some arrot finely grated, and a few spoonfuls of fine barley or wheat meal. When meat is given to birds, great care should be taken to cut it very small, and to have all the particles quite distinct, as, if this is not the case, the bird is very apt to get the pieces of meat twisted round its beak, and if not relieved, it will very soon be choked.

There are several different kinds of thrush, seven of which are natives of England, viz. the missel thrush or storm-cock, the fieldfare, the song thrush, the redwing, the ring-ousel, the blackbird, and the water-ousel or dipper. Of these, the redwing and the fieldfare are only birds of passage; and, indeed, only the missel thrush, the song thrush, and the blackbird are valued for their singing. "The missel thrush," says the late Dr. Stanley, "is not only the largest, but the finest and boldest of the family, and has some claims to our esteem, from its being the earliest song-bird of the year; often favouring us with its notes at a season when every other bird slinks away to its hiding place, glad to escape the inclemency of the weather. In the height of a heavy gale of wind, the missel thrush may be seen braving the blast, perched on the quivering branch of some tall tree; hence it has gained the name of

the storm-cock. It is, moreover, a gallant bird; and, during the breeding season, woe be to the jackdaw or magpie that ventures to cast a wistful eye at its eggs: nay, more, we have known it attack even a hawk, and fairly drive him from the neighbourhood."

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"The storm-cock," observes Mr. Waterton, bles nearly the year throughout. I have often heard him pour forth his wild and plaintive notes in the months of August, October, November, and December, and in every following month, until the sun has entered into Cancer, at which period he seems to unstring his lyre for a few weeks. Towards the close of December, his song is particularly charming; and it becomes more frequent as the new year advances. I remember well (indeed, I noted down the circumstance), that, on December the 21st, 1827, his carol was remarkably attractive. He warbled incessantly from the top of a lofty elm, just as the poor from a neighbouring village were receiving corn under it, in memory of St. Thomas the Apostle."

"During the period of the breeding season," continues the same author, "the habits of the storm-cock undergo a noted change. At other times of the year, except in cherry-time, and when the seeds of the different species of the service-tree are ripe, this bird carefully avoids the haunts of man; but no

sooner does the time arrive in which it has to make its nest, than it draws near to our habitations with the utmost confidence, and forms its nest in places the most exposed to our view. There, both male and female protect their charge with matchless courage. On the approach of an enemy, you immediately hear their singular cry, which somewhat resembles the sound produced by striking the teeth of a comb smartly with your finger; and you see the parent birds dashing incessantly at the crow, the cat, or the magpie, until they clear the coast. One year

there was a storm-cock's nest within fifteen yards of the place where the masons were at work. Our tame magpie, which was allowed its freedom and the use of its wings, seized the female, and brought her close to the masons. The male bird instantly came up, and rescued his mate by fighting the magpie, until he made it let go its hold. It was to save his female that he advanced so undauntedly into the midst of his mortal enemies: nothing else could have induced him to face the danger. I could fancy that I heard him say, 'If you won't give my poor dear up to me, here I stay you may kill us both.' This loving couple retired triumphant to their nest; but the female lost half of her tail in the fray."

The common Song Thrush, or Throstle, is particu

larly fond of snails, the shells of which it breaks by a sharp knock against any hard substance which happens to be in its way. A story is related in the Magazine of Natural History, of a lady who had a tame thrush, which she permitted to fly about her room; and one day this thrush took up a pincushion made in a shell, which it struck with such force against a book-case, as to break off a splinter of the wood, the poor bird, no doubt, fancying that there was a snail or some other molluscous animal in the shell. " Thrushes," observes the Rev. Leonard Jenyns, "live much on snails during the summer, especially in dry weather. They appear to resort to particular spots and favourite stones for breaking the shells of these animals. There are two or three such spots in my garden, which are very much visited for this purpose, and where the shelly fragments of the common snail may be found in some seasons accumulated by handfuls. It is very amusing to watch the thrush holding the snail in its bill, and forcibly knocking it against a stone, in order to get at the contents of the shell. The rapping noise which it makes may be heard to a considerable distance, and I have often known persons puzzled at such times to know whence the noise proceeded. When disturbed during the operation, I have seen the bird fly off with its booty to another spot."

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The BLACKBIRD very closely resembles the thrush in its habits, in a state of nature as well as in confinement. It appears, however, to be a more imitative bird, and, as Mr. Broderip remarks, "some of our readers may not be aware that, glorying in its prodigality of voice, and revelling in its mimicry, it has been known to crow like a cock, and cackle like a hen. The power and quality of tone of the blackbird is first-rate, and for these he is justly more celebrated than for execution or variety of notes. His clear, mellow, fluty pipe is first heard in the early spring, and his song is continued far into the year, till the time of moulting. He rejoices in the moist vernal weather, and is heard to the greatest advantage when

The stealing shower is scarce to patter heard,

By those who wander through the forest walks.' The thickest bush is generally selected for the nest, which is matted externally with coarse roots, and strong dry grass stalks or bents, plastered and mixed internally with earth, so as to form a kind of cobwall. The fruit consumed by the blackbird and song-thrush," Mr. Broderip continues, "is well repaid, not only by their music, but by the good they do to the garden in destroying snails and slugs. Besides their natural notes, these birds may be educated so as to sing an artificial song, and even articulate. Dr.