352 THE THRUSH FAMILY 



perhaps by some vague proprietary instinct, turned suddenly and 

 followed it with querulous notes, which, of course, received no atten- 

 tion. 



When the thrush pauses, erect and attentive, it appears to be 

 listening. No doubt a slight rustle in the grass would attract its 

 attention, for its hearing powers are highly developed. But it 

 probably depends mainly upon sight, the slightest movement, whether 

 of an insect, or of a worm emerging ever so little aboveground, 

 immediately catching one or other of its eyes, which are so placed in 

 the head as to command nearly all the ground immediately around. 

 The pauses themselves have presumably no other object than to give 

 sufficient time for close inspection. 



The feeding habits of the other species resemble more or less 

 closely those just described, but the exact differences between them 

 have yet to be studied. The song-thrush's frequent companion, the 

 blackbird, differs from it in its less erect attitudes, and its greater 

 activity. It is less content to wait and watch, and is often to be seen 

 busily turning over leaves and loose earth or scratching the soil ; it is 

 also less inclined to venture far into the open, and more prompt to 

 seek cover when alarmed. If one enters a field where blackbirds and 

 thrushes are feeding together, the former will, as a rule, be the first to 

 take flight. The blackbird, indeed, seems instinctively aware that its 

 sable hue renders it a conspicuous object ; whereas the thrush, on the 

 contrary, sometimes reposes a trust in its coloration that exceeds 

 discretion. I have a note, under the date August 24, 1903, of a 

 thrush standing absolutely motionless in a grass field as I slowly 

 approached nearer. It remained thus for about five minutes in exactly 

 the same attitude, its breast toward me, and its head slightly turned. 

 Except for an imperceptible sinking of the body into the grass, it 

 remained motionless until I was within a few yards, when it took 

 flight. 



In their winter feeding habits the mistle-thrush, fieldfare, and red- 

 wing differ from the blackbird and song-thrush in showing a marked 



