THE SONG THRUSH 109 



mind, are fuller of the promise of spring than those 

 of any other. He is indeed the most persistent 

 singer of the spring, always, early and late, over- 

 flowing with music. An attempt to describe the 

 music of this matchless songster is almost as vain 

 as it is unnecessary. If "variety is charming," 

 then the voice of the Song Thrush must be charm- 

 ing indeed. Its charm consists not only in the 

 clear rich notes themselves, but in the perfectly 

 marvellous way in which these notes are varied, 

 perhaps never given forth twice in exactly the same 

 order. Each variation is repeated, often given 

 again and again, and the bird seems literally to 

 amuse itself in forming a variety of combinations. 

 He is a most persistent singer too, and will sit and 

 carol for an amazing length of time from one 

 particular perch, often high up in the trees where 

 his spotted breast is lost in the distance. No wonder 

 that this bird is a favourite captive ; he bears con- 

 finement well, and sings freely in a cage, but we 

 prefer his melody in freedom, behind no other bars 

 than those formed by the bloom-decked branches 

 of the trees. The Song Thrush is to some extent 

 a night singer, especially during April and May ; 

 we have heard this species singing beautifully at 

 two a.m. in a London suburb. It also sings much 

 during light warm rain, and may even be heard 

 during the progress of a thunderstorm. 



The Song Thrush is an early breeder, the first 



