THRUSHES. 



495 



are so well described Ijy Macgillhi'ay that we must quote his words : " Listen, and 

 think how should you describe the strain so as to impress its characters on the mind 

 of one who never heard it. Perhaps you might say that it consists of a succession of 

 notes, greatly diversified, repeated at sliort intervals with variations, and i)rotracted 

 for a long time ; that it is loud, clear, and mellow, generally sprightly, but at times 



Fig. ill. — Tardus musicut, song-thrusU ; T. tonjualus, ring-ou2i'l. 



tender and melting. You niiglit a.ld that two birds at a distance from each other 

 often respond, the one commencing its song when the other has ceased, niul that 

 sometimes several mav be lieard at once, filling a whole glen with their warbling. 

 Listen again, and say what does it resemble ? 



" ' Dear, dear, dear, 

 111 the rocky glen; 

 Far away, far away, far away, 

 The haunts of nien. 



