296 THE USEFUL BIRDS 



THE SONG THRUSH, 



Tiirdiis iliaeiis, Linn.* 



It is said that no true Thrushes occurred in Australia until 

 this species arrived from Europe in 1872. The grey bird we 

 know as the Harmonious Shrike-Thrush is our nearest vocal 

 counterpart. Both are forms in whose company the people 

 of each country rnay justly find much pleasure. 



It is an olive-brown bird, with fore-neck, chest, and sides of 

 body bright golden-buff, thickly marked with triangular or 

 ovate spots of black, which become streaked upon the sides of 

 the body, w^ith the centre of breast and abdomen white. 



The Botanic Gardens offer us inducement to spend an 

 occasional hour with the promise of rest and the blending of 

 birds' music. In Great Britain it is the opinion of most 

 people that this bird is the finest songster of the empire, for, 

 if it lacks the richness of tone of the nightingale, the song is 

 far more sustained and varied. " The clever attempt of 

 Macgillivray to put its song into words is familiar to most 

 people, and though this is one of the best word imitations of 

 a bird's song ever published, it does not give a full idea of 

 that of the Thrush, for the simple reason that the bird never 

 sings its song in the same order consecutively. "f 



The following is Mr. Witchell'sJ rendermg of the 

 music : — 



* Turdus iliacus, Linn,, is the bird that sings in the English parks and 

 gardens, and the one already introduced into the Commonwealth. 

 Turdus mnsicus is a winter migrant to Great Britain, and I believe is 

 unknown in Australia. T. musicals has been the name in use for half 

 a century, and custom may not yield its place to priority. 



t R. B. Sharpe, LL.D., British Museum. 



% " Evolution of Bird Song," C. A. Witchell. 



