ii^ Some Account of the British Song Birds. 



Ldxia Chld?'is, Greenjinch, — This is a common bird, and a 

 far better songster than the bullfinch, with which he often 

 associates ; both living on the same kinds of seeds, and, in 

 defect of these, on the flower-buds of fruit trees. His song 

 consists of four or five passages, repeated in succession, and 

 in very different tones; some of them deep and guttural. 

 The cock diverts himself by sometimes singing on the wing 

 in breeding time; flying, not in his usual graceful manner, 

 but with his wings awkwardly extended, and swaying from 

 side to side, as if badly wounded. This action 1 suppose to 

 be some blandishment of affection. 



It may be noticed in this place, that the families of Loxia, 

 Pyrrhula, Emberiza, and i^ringilla have all a peculiar manner 

 of flight ; it being performed in graceful bounds or curves ; 

 the wings being rapidly moved at the end of each, to enable 

 the bird to perform another ; and at the same time each flap 

 of the wings is accompanied by a soft note during the whole 

 flight. 



Stumus mdgaris, Starling. — This bold active bird has no 

 regular song, but has great powers of voice. Some of his 

 <;alls are not only amusing, but truly musical. His slurred 

 octave, both up and down, is admirable ; and he has several 

 other calls in perfect intonation, and easily imitable on a small 

 flute. He has also a confused chatter, like that of a magpie, 

 which has no semblance of song ; though, from his affected 

 action at the time, it appears a soliloquy of much self-compla- 

 cency. 



liurdus mimcus, Song Thrus/i, or Throstle. — Here we have 

 one of the most musical of British birds. He is one of the 

 first harbingers of spring, and his loud and powerful pipe is 

 always hailed with pleasure. His song is continued for hours 

 together, and consists of short passages, each repeated two or 

 three times. Some of these passages are very fine, and true 

 to the chromatic scale. The song thrush has certainly more 

 variety in his notes than any other British bird, the nightin- 

 gale not excepted. Breeding twice in the season, their song 

 is continued throughout the greater part of the year; and 

 even the young ones begin to sing inwardly during the au- 

 tumn. 



Turdus Merulay Blackbird, or Ousel. — A constant com- 

 panion and rival of the throstle. Though inferior in spright- 

 liness and variety, he excels in melodious depth of tone, with 

 fewer repetitions ; and, while " whistling from the thorny 

 brake," is one of the most interesting and distinguishable in 

 the woodland choir. The blackbird does not begin to sing 

 so early as the thrush, but continues quite as late in the 



