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THE FERRTIGINOTTS THRUSH.* 



This is a well-known and very distinguished songster of the American continent. It 

 arrives in the neighbourhood of Pennsylvania about the middle or end of Apiil, which is 

 about the time the cherry-trees begin to blossom, and from the tops of the hedge-rows 

 and fruit-trees he sends forth his loud and varied song, which may be heard in the calm 

 mornings at the distance of half a mile, and which bears considerable resemblance to the 

 song of the thrush of om- own coimtr)'. Early in May they make theii- nest, choosing a thorn 

 bush, low cedar, or a thicket of briars, saplings, or a cluster of vines, for the spot where to 

 build. Like all biids which have their nests near the ground, they appear to be in a 

 state of constant alarm for the safety of theii- progeny, and theii- defensive powers are 

 brought into active requisition, and usually with success, their bills being stronger than 

 an}- other of their tribe in the United States. Hence they are enabled to attack even the 

 black snake, and to repel his assaults. 



The food of the ferruginous thrush consists of worms, caterpillars, beetles, and various 

 kinds of berries. He has been accused of scratching up the hiUs of Indian corn in 

 planting time, and this may be partially true ; but Wilson expresses his confident belief 

 that for every grain of maize he may steal he destroys five hundred insects, and that in 

 particidar he devours large numbers of a large gi-ub which is more pernicious to the 

 crop than nine-tenths of the whole feathered tribe. This bird is very active in its flight, 

 and may be seen sweeping along, generally at a low elevation, from one thicket to 

 another, with his long, broad tail spread out like a fan. 



The great American naturalist has well expressed the feelings which ought to be 

 cherished in regard to the advantages which this bird confers. " In the months of 

 April and May," he says, " when our woods, hedge-rows, orchards, and cherry-trees, 

 arc one profusion of blossoms, when every object around conveys the sweet sensations of 

 joy, and heaven's abimdance is, as it were, showering around us, the grateful heart beats 

 in unison \vith the varying, elevated strains of this excellent bird ; we listen to its notes 

 with a kind of devotional ecstacj^ as a morning hjTnn to the great and adorable Creator 

 of aU. The himian being who, amidst such scenes, and in such seasons of rural serenity 

 and delight, can pass them with cold indifference, and even contempt, I sincerely pity ; 

 for abject must that heart be, and caUous those feelings, and depraved that taste, which 

 neither the charms of nature, nor the melody of innocence, nor the voice of gratitude or 

 devotion, can reach." 



The sagacity which this interesting bird displays has been well illustrated by some 

 observations made by Mr. Bartram. He reared one of them from the nest, which, when 

 fuU grown, became exceedingly tame and docile, and he was often allowed to leave the 

 cage in which he was ordinarily confined. On such occasions, he proceeded to flutter 

 about and dust himself in di-y sand and earth, and after bathing, washing, and plu min g 

 himself, he hiuited the insects which might be accessible. He had a decided par- 

 tiality for -wasps, which lie would catch, and then knocking them about to break their 

 wings, he would lay them down, then examine if they had any stuig, and with his bUl 

 squeeze the abdomen to clear it of the reservoir of poison before he would swaUow his 

 prey. "When in his cage, being very fond of dry crusts of bread, Mr. Bartram tells 

 us, if he foimd the corners of the crumbs were too hard and sharp for his throat, he 

 would throw them into a dish of water to soften them ; then he would pick them out and 

 swallow them. Other curious illustrations of the sagacity thus shown might be adduced ; 

 but enough has been advanced, we think, to prove that this is, in many respects, a most 

 interesting little creature. 



• Orpheiis Rufus — SwainS. 



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