10 



FOREIGN BIRDS FOR CAGE AND AVIARY. 



tones, variability of phrases, and solemnity of sound. 

 The song is continued almost without intermission from 

 break of day until late in the evening, the only brief 

 interval for rest being about midday. Nests may be 

 found from the beginning of June, generally placed 

 low down upon a densely-twigged stock or overhang- 

 ing branch of an old tree, also in a dense thorn-bush, 

 or, rarely, on the stump of a tree. The nest is like that 

 of the Migratory Thrush, but the cavity is sometimes 

 smoothed over with black earth and lined with twigs 

 and rootlets. The eggs and period of incubation are 

 described as similar to those of its allies. 



When first caught, this Wood Thrush is said to be 

 very wild, and some examples remain so for a con- 

 siderable time, while others soon become tame and 

 confiding. It sings in captivity from the end of Feb- 

 ruary well into July, but it must be noted that in a 

 cage many cocks will only sing very little, and some 

 not at all ; particularly in a crowded cage will they 

 not sing. They must be always caged alone, and even 

 then many cocks only utter their call e-p-lie, e-o-lie. 

 This being the case, it is hardly surprising that this 

 Thrush has not become a favourite cage-bird even in 

 Germany, but as an inhabitant for a large garden 

 aviary it should be charming. 



MIGRATORY THRUSH (Turdus migratorius). 



Above olive-grey, top and sides of the head black, 

 chin and throat white streaked with black ; eyelids, 

 and a spot above the eye anteriorly, white ; under- 

 parts and inside of the wings, yellowish ohestnut- 

 brown ; the under tail-coverts and thighs, white ; 

 the feathers, leaden-greyish at base ; wings and tail, 

 dark brown, more or less edged with ashy ; outermost 

 tail-feathers white-tipped ; bill yellow ; the culmen 

 and tip dusky ; base yellow ; eyes brown ; feet blackish. 



Female altogether paler, top and sides of head 

 browner, throat whiter. The young bird is said to be 

 barred above with blackish, the throat white, bounded 

 by a brown stripe running downward from the angle 

 of the bill, rest of under-surface rust yellow, with 

 blackish bars ; bill and feet blackish-brown. Inhabits 

 North America and southward to Ecuador. 



According to J. G. Cooper, the nest of this species 

 " is built at various heights on trees, and sometimes, 

 as if relying fully on the nobler traits of humanity, 

 in a shed, stable, or even in a sawmill close to the 

 constantly working and noisy machinery." He says 

 that he has also found one in the cleft of a split tree 

 which had been broken down by the wind. " Nuttall 

 relates instances of their building near a blacksmith's 

 anvil ; on the stern timbers of a vessel that was being 

 built at Portsmouth (N.H.); on a harrow hung up in 

 a cart-shed, where three men were at work, and where 

 they took refuge after the destruction of their first 

 nest." 



" The eggs are four or five, dark bluish green, and 

 unspotted. The nest is composed outside of roots, 

 shavings, etc., then a layer of leaves, moss, and grass, 

 cemented by mud, inside of which is a lining of soft, 

 dry grass." 



" The Robin's song* is loud and sweet, but not much 

 varied. Though usually uttered in spring, it occa- 

 sionally is heard during other seasons, especially in 

 fine weather, when the musician, having fed heartily 

 in the garden or field, mounts to the top of a tree, and 

 returns thanks for human hospitality in the most 

 pleasing melody." 



"Their food consists chiefly of insects, especially 

 worms " (a curious statement when one considers that 

 these are not insects !), " for which they hop over grassy 

 fields in the spring, watching and listening for the 



* This Thrush is known in the United States a& the American Kobin. 



gnawing grub or earthworm driven to the surface by 

 rain, occasionally seizing one with a quick motion of 

 the head, swallowing it whole, or picking it to pieces. 

 They also feed much on berries, especially during 

 winter, when they eat those of the Madrona (Arbutus) 

 and even the bitter fruit of the dogwood (Cornus). 



"Kept in cages they become very familiar, and learn 

 to imitate various tunes and noises. They live some- 

 times for many years in captivity, and have been made 

 so domestic as to be allowed the free range of the 

 house and surrounding ground*." (Geological Survev 

 of California : " Ornithology," Vol. I., p. 9, 1870.) 



The song has been likened to that of the European 

 Blackbird, but Dr. Russ says this is only true so far 

 as the mere tone is concerned ; that both have the same 

 splendid whistle, only the song of the Blackbird is 

 more sustained and varied ; that of the Migratory 

 Thrush shorter and more monotonous. 



DWARF THRUSH (Turdus nanus). 



Upper surface light olive-brown, becoming redder on 

 upper tail-coverts and tail, wings also slightly washed 

 with reddish ; under-surface white, the breast and some- 

 times throat slightly buffish ; sides of throat and breast 

 spotted with more or less triangular dusky spots, lateral 

 spots at back of breast more rounded ; sides washed with 

 pearl-grey ; bill brown, the base of lower mandible 

 yellowish flesh-coloured ; eyes brown ; feet pale brown. 

 Inhabits North America. 



Very rarely imported into the German bird market, 

 but possibly not into that of Great Britain. Mr. Cooper 

 gives the following account of the wild life : 



" I saw but few of this species in the Colorado valley, 

 where they seem to remain only for the winter, as I 

 observed none after April 1. Most of them winter in 

 the same parts of the State in which they spend the 

 summer, chiefly south of San Francisco. They are shy 

 and timid, preferring the dark, shady thickets, and 

 rarely venturing far from them, ex'-ept in the twilight, 

 their large eyes being suited for seeing in dark places. 

 They feed chiefly on the ground, running rapidly, and 

 searching for insects among the leaves and herbage, but 

 not scratching for them. Probably, also, they feed on 

 berries, like others of the family. 



" About April 25th they begin to sing near San Diego, 

 the song consisting of a few ringing notes. ... Their 

 usual note of alarm is a single chirp, sometimes loud 

 and ringing, repeated and answered by others for a long 

 distance. 



" At Santa Cruz, on the 1st of June, I found several of 

 their nests, all built in thickets under the shade of cotton- 

 wood trees, each about 5ft. above the ground, and con- 

 taining eggs in various stages of hatching, from two to 

 four in number, the smaller number probably laid after 

 the destruction of a first set. The -nests were built of 

 dry leaves, root-fibres, grass and bark, without mud, 

 lined with decayed leaves ; measuring outside 4in. each 

 way, inside 2.50 wide and 0.20 deep. The eggs 

 measured 0.90 by 0.70, and were pale bluish green, 

 speckled with cinnamon-brown, chiefly at the larger end. 



" In 1866, at Santa Cruz, I found nests with eggs 

 about May 20th, one on a horizontal branch not more 

 than a foot from the ground ; another on an alder tree 

 15ft. up. After raising their young they all left the 

 vicinity of the town, probably for the moister mountains, 

 where food was more plenty at the end of the dry 

 season" T.c., pp. 4, 5. 



Dr. Russ regards this as a mere varietal form of 

 Pallas' Thrush. He says that to his knowledge E. von 

 Schlechtendal once possessed a specimen belonging to 

 this form, and that in the course of about twenty years 

 he has only seen single examples in the possession of 



