310 INSESSORES. 



The length of this pretty bird is only four and a half inches. 

 Linnseus included the entire group of Warblers under the one 

 genus Motacilla. 



SECOND FAMILY. THRUSHES-. 



Merulida, (Lat. merula, a black bird,) or Turdida, (Lat. 

 Turdus, a thrush.) 



The Thrushes are the most numerous and diversified of the 

 tooth-billed division of birds. The average size is considerably 

 greater than that of the Warblers. The beak of these birds is as 

 long as the head, and compressed at the sides; the upper mandi 

 ble arched to the tip ; the notch is well marked ; the gape is 

 furnished with bristles ; the feet are long, with curved claws 

 adapted for walking as well as perching, for exercising on the 

 ground as well as moving among the trees. The food on which 

 the Thrushes subsist, is less restricted than that of the Warblers; 

 for, besides insects and their caterpillars, snails, slugs, earth 

 worms, etc., they feed largely on pulpy and farinaceous berries. 

 Many of the species are gregarious in the winter, and some, as 

 the common Fieldfare, T. pilaris, (Lat. like a ball,) are so during 

 the year. 



The colors of the Thrushes are, for the most part, sombre, but 

 often elegantly arranged ; various shades of olive are the pre 

 vailing hues, ami these often take the form of spots running in 

 chains upon the breast and under parts. The Orioles are dis 

 tinguished for their fine contrasts of rich black and golden 

 yellow ; the Breves, Pitta, (Gr. pitch,) with remarkably short 

 tails, and found in India and Australia, are distinguished for 

 their dazzling blue and green; while some of the African 

 Thrushes shine like the metallic lustre of burnished steel. 



The Thrushes are common in all parts of the world, and 

 many of them are eminently birds of song. As illustrating the 

 general character and habits of the family, we may refer to the 

 Song Thrush, Mavis, or Throstle, (T. musicus,) which sings 

 with sweet and varied note from the commencement of spring, 

 and even earlier, to the close of summer; to the Blackbird, (T. 

 merula^) whose song is less varied, but still richer and mellower; 

 and to the Fieldfare, or Gray Thrush, (T. pilaris.) 



THE AFRICAN SHORT-LEGGED THRUSHES, Brachypodidce, (Gr. 

 brachus, short ; pous, a foot,) are a sub-family ; from having four 

 long bristles on the back of the neck, sometimes called Bristly- 

 necked Thrushes. 

 Another sub-family, is the BABBLERS, or LONG-LEGGED THRUSHES, 



