214- Solitary Thrush {Tzirdtis solitarius). 



the case, we might well wonder at the rarity of a bird, tens 

 of thousands of which are bred every year in the British 

 Islands; and which therefore could not fail of being well 

 known to all our naturalists, who on this supposition have 

 displayed a degree of ignorance altogether inexplicable. It is 

 true Dr. Fleming condemns only Willoughby and Montagu, 

 as if they alone had mentioned the bird, or that the species 

 mentioned by them was different from that spoken of by 

 Aristotle, Pliny, Varro, Gesner, and Ruysch; but the de- 

 scription by Ray (who must be considered as a joint author 

 of Willoughby's work, and whose description, Syn. Av., p. 66., 

 is that alone to which I am able to refer) corresponds gene- 

 rally with that in Ruysch, except that it is more brief; and, 

 consequently, little doubt remains of their having all spoken 

 of one species. The specimens of Montagu and Bewick were 

 both female, as was proved, in the case of the former, by 

 dissection ; for an egg was found in the body in the month 

 of June, another proof that the specimen could not have 

 been a young bird of that year. On the history of a bird so 

 little known, the notes of Ruysch are interesting; though it 

 is probable that they were not obtained by him from personal 

 observation, but rather from books and private correspond- 

 ence. It keeps in elevated and rocky places, and is always 

 solitary, except in the breeding season ; it rarely descends 

 into the plains or valleys but when compelled by the weather. 

 Its song is delightful, and, when confined in a cage, is in- 

 dulged in also by night, if a candle be lighted. It is worthy 

 of remark, and perhaps affords some apology for Dr. Fleming, 

 that in the Synopsis of the Contents of the British Museum 

 (1823) are the following words : — "In the fourth order are 

 placed the starling, showing its change of plumage (amongst 

 which the solitary thrush of Montagu is included)." It is 

 true there is some obscurity of expression here : and whether 

 the writer intended to express his opinion that this bird is 

 not a Turdus, but a ^turnus; or that Montagu's bird (the iden- 

 tical specimen in the museum) differs from the solitary thrush 

 of other authors ; or, finally, that all the birds that have 

 borne the name are mere varieties of the starling, is not clear. 

 But the latter idea receives corroboration from the fact that, 

 in the alphabetical list of the English names of birds in the 

 room {Catalogue, p.74.), that of the solitary thrush is omitted. 



Yours, &c. 

 Polperro, Nov,20, \SSO. Jonathan Couch, 



