io8 OUR FAVOURITE SONG BIRDS 



is somewhat of a skulking bird too, save when 

 engaged in song, fond of hiding away under thickets 

 and the ground-sweeping branches of evergreen 

 shrubs. Much of its food, however, is sought in 

 the open, upon grass land. It is very fond of feed- 

 ing upon a lawn; hopping out from the sheltering 

 bushes with a somewhat startled and halting manner, 

 looking warily around before trusting itself to search 

 for food, and at the least alarm returning to the 

 friendly cover. It always prefers to hop or run 

 along the ground under brushwood or bushes to 

 taking wing, but when flushed can and does fly 

 rapidly and steadily from place to place. Its harsh 

 grating alarm-note is very frequently heard towards 

 dusk, just prior to the bird settling down to roost; 

 its call-notes are varied, and some of them almost as 

 plaintive as those of the Robin. 



What perhaps endears the Song Thrush to the 

 multitude is its splendid song. We may correctly 

 describe him as the first musician of the year ; in- 

 deed in some localities (in South Devonshire, for 

 one) he might almost claim to be a perennial 

 songster, for there is scarcely a day in winter, 

 provided it is sufficiently warm and genial, on which 

 his voice may not be heard. From November on- 

 wards we have many repeated notes recorded of 

 this bird's song; but unfortunately a spell of rough 

 weather will silence him, and in this he is very 

 unlike the Robin. The notes of this bird, to our 



