THE SONG THRUSH. 



99 



at that time, and they fly in company with the redwings and the fieldfares. 

 Indeed, they are often sold in the market with other small birds as an article 

 of food ; but such diet is not very popular in England. 



We must not forget to mention that the thrush is a very orderly bird, and 

 docs not allow any litter near the nest. If any stones or rubbish happen to be 





::^ 



THE SONG THRUSH. 



there, he carries them away. And the parent birds keep the little ones very 

 clean. A naturalist once rubbed the backs of the young thrushes with mud, 

 to see what the old birds would do. When they came back they were quite 

 in a fuss, and took grass in their bills, and rubbed away at the feathers until 

 there was not a speck of dirt left upon them. 



G 2 



