44 Blue Thrushes 



Sometimes in the stillness of alpine mountain 

 gorges the whistling of the blue thrush rings out, so 

 that it is for ever associated with snowy peaks, and 

 edelweiss, and swishing hill streams. If you wander 

 up amongst the rocks and then sit under the shadow 

 of some giant boulder, you will see the Passera Soli- 

 taria, proving his title to the adjective of his name, 

 perched on the summit of the precipice above you, or 

 hovering upwards into the air, singing as he goes, and 

 fluttering downwards to his former standpoint, showing 

 off his voice and form to his mate amongst the rocks. 

 And again you find him wintering in perpetual sun- 

 shine (wise bird) in Egypt, for thither many of them 

 take their flight by September, to flit amongst the 

 barren hills that overhang some of the wonderful 

 temples of the ancient Egyptians. Curiously bold 

 birds they are, considering their shyness in their 

 summer quarters, for at the temple of Dehr el Bahari, 

 the beautiful structure built by the famous Queen 

 Hatepsu, which has been excavated only of late years, 

 the artist employed to copy the lovely and delicately 

 tinted frescoes told me that of an evening the blue 

 thrushes would descend from the precipitous rocks 

 overhanging the temple buildings, and positively mob 

 him from all sides. 



At Assouan, amongst the rocks outside the town, I 

 saw a blue thrush flitting from one boulder to another, 

 singing as he settled afresh, his form showing up with 

 great clearness against the azure of the Egyptian sky. 

 That was in March, which goes to prove that migra- 

 tory birds of song have commenced their warblings 



