THRUSHES. 



495 



are so well described by Macgillivray that we must quote his words : " Listen, and 

 think how should you describe the strain so as to impress its characters on the mind 

 of one who never heard it. Perhaps you might say that it consists of a succession of 

 notes, greatly diversified, repeated at short intervals with variations, and protracted 

 for a long time ; that it is loud, clear, and mellow, generally sprightly, but at times 



FIG. 241. Turdus miisicus, song-thrush ; T. toryuatus, ring-ouzel. 



tender and melting. You might add that two birds at a distance from each other 



O 



often respond, the one commencing its song when the other has ceased, and that 

 sometimes several may be heard at once, filling a whole glen with their warbling. 

 Listen again, and say what does it resemble ? 



" 'Dear, dear, dear, 



In the rocky glen ; 

 Far away, far away, far away, 

 The haunts of men. 



