42 FAMILIAR WILD ISlliDS. 



Throstle, the bird has had a prominent j)ositi(tn in the 

 world of poesy from the earliest times. Its beautiful sonu* 

 commences early in January, and is heard throughout the 

 whole year, with the exception of moulting time. 



The Thrush is a tine, handsome bird, with pretty, though 

 somewhat colourless, plumage. The whole upper part is 

 olive brown, somewhat deeper coloured upon the head and 

 neck. The throat is a yellowish-white, partially speckled 

 with dark brown spots ; the breast is pale buff, tinged 

 more darkly on either side, and from the throat down to 

 the thighs tlecked with very dark brown triangular spots. 

 The sexes may with dithculty be distinguished, except that 

 the male is possibly smaller, whilst the female has larger 

 s})()ts upon the breast, and not so much buff. As, however, 

 the female is mute, the song sup})lies an unerring guide. 



Though of some size — i.e., 8^ inches in length — this 

 bird does not^ walk, but when upon the ground proceeds 

 with a series of lea^s or bops ; thc^ ^ight, however, i< 

 rapid, and capable of being sustained for a considerable 

 distance ; yet the Thrush is only a partially migratory 

 bird, most individuals remaining w'ith us throughout the 

 winter. At that season, however, a considerable migration 

 appears to arrive from the north, ])ossibly driven south by 

 snow or hard weather. 



It is seldom that more than a jniir of Thrushes are seen 

 together, except at the period of their forced migration in 

 winter ; and even then their numbers never attain to the 

 extent of the flocks of Fieldfares. 



The general_abode of thesejbirds is in the neigliljour- 

 hood of gardens, plantations, hedgerows, and thickets; yet_ 

 there is little limit to their choice, sometimes living in well- 

 wateredjk^iUeys, and again among furze^and thickets upon 



