gS STORIES ABOUT TIRDS. 



THE SONG THRUSH. 



The family of our well-known songster is a very large one indeed, and 

 includes nearly a hundred and twenty species. But our friend in the picture, 

 who is pouring forth his melodious song, is called mnsica on account of his 

 vocal powers. 



Who has not heard him some mild day in the early spring, or rather 

 towards the close of the winter } He is seated on the top of a tree that is as 

 yet bare and leafless. The country has no glad look at present ; the fields 

 are bare and barren, but the very sound of those clear delicious notes inspire' 

 us with joy. " The thrushes," we say, "are beginning to sing." 



He is a plain bird, with brown spots on his breast. But if he wore 

 all the colours of the rainbow, he would not be any dearer to us on that 

 account. It is his voice wc prize, and we do not look at his dress. 



His song is very full, and has many variations. Some persons compare 

 it to that of the nightingale ; and, indeed, he may rank next to that prince of 

 song. Early in the morning and late in the evening he is heard, perched 

 often on the same twig. 



His domestic habits can easily be studied, for his family abound on all 

 sides of us. His nest is built very early, for he and his partner rear several 

 families of young thrushes in the course of the season. It is rather a rough- 

 looking fabric outside, but within it is very nicely finished, and looks like a 

 smooth hard cup, quite water-tight. 



As a rule, the nest is placed in a bush or a hedge. 



In Italy the thrush feeds delicately on grapes, for he is a berry-loving 

 bird. But in England, where we have no vineyards, his principal food is of 

 an animal character. He devours slugs and earthworms, and you may see 

 dozens of thrushes on the lawn after rain, walking about and picking up the 

 worms. His bill is as long as his head, and is very useful to him in procuring 

 his food. He has a great fancy for snails, and he breaks the shells to get 

 them out ; and he has been seen to place the snail between two pebbles that 

 he used for the purpose, and hammer with his beak until the shell was broken. 



Towards the autumn a great many thrushes come from the north of 

 Europe to winter in England. Great numbers of these birds are often met with 



