White's Thrush. 17 



therefore needs frequent attention. I parted Avitli mine when I sold my Redwings, 

 and have never wished to keep another. 



I fed him on the same food as m}^ other insectivorous species, adding a few 

 worms, snails, caterpillars, and berries when obtainable; he was always in perfect 

 health, even when moulting, and never showed restlessness at the seasons of 

 migration ; in fact, he was one of the steadiest and most apathetic birds I ever 

 possessed. 



His name has been corrupted to "Felfer," "Felt," "Pigeon Felt," or 

 "Blue Felt" by country folk. 



Family— TURD ID ^. Stibjamily— TURD J N^. 



White's Thrush. 



Turdiis varius, PallAS. 



This bird, also known as " White's Ground- Thrush " and placed in the genus 

 Geocichla, is only an accidental straggler to our shores ; about a dozen 

 examples having been obtained in the southern and midland counties of 

 England and two in Ireland. Therefore, although, from the writer's standpoint, 

 it has no more claim to be called British, than any foreigner stranded on the 

 British coast has to be called an Englishman, its claim to the title is stronger 

 than in the case of the " Black-Throated," the " Rock Thrush," and many other 

 species usually included in the British list on the strength of single examples 

 which have come to hand. 



White's Ground-Thrush is a native of South-central and South-eastern Siberia 

 and of North China : at the approach of winter it migrates to South Japan, South 

 China, the Philippines and even to Sumatra. The first example obtaiued in Great 

 Britain was shot in Hampshire in January, 1828 ; and, being supposed to be new to 



