TEE THRUSH. 227 



THE THEUSH, 



(Turdus musicus.) 



PLATE XV. FIGURE I. 



THE Common Thrush, often called the Throstle or the Mavis, is to 

 be met with in all parts of the British Isles throughout the year. Its 

 favourite resorts are woods, plantations, shrubberies, and the banks of 

 streams well covered with bushes and thick vegetation. Not unfre- 

 quently it may be seen in gardens and orchards, but it avoids the 

 vicinity of houses, except during the winter, when it often exhibits 

 great boldness in approaching the doors and windows in search of 

 food. 



In form and proportions this bird resembles the Missel Thrush, but 

 it is considerably smaller, rarely measuring more than nine inches and 

 a quarter in total length. Its plumage, though by no means striking, 

 is not destitute of beauty. The upper part of the head, neck, back, 

 wings, and tail, are yellowish brown. The throat is white; the sides 

 of the neck and breast are pale reddish yellow, each feather terminating 

 with a triangular dark brown spot. The irides are hazel, the legs and 

 feet brown. 



The food of the Thrush consists of insects, slugs, and worms. It 

 is particularly partial to the various species of garden snails, the shells 

 of which it ingeniously breaks against a stone, and then shakes or 

 picks out the slimy inhabitants. Heaps of these broken shells may 

 sometimes be found scattered around a large stone in a retired corner 

 of a garden, or by the edge of a thicket. In the Hebrides, where 

 this bird frequents the shores in winter, Macgillivray says it treats 

 the whelk and other mollusca in the same manner. Besides the food 

 we have mentioned, the Thrush sometimes partakes of fruit and berries. 

 In France, Italy, and Spain, it feeds largely during the autumn on 

 the ripe grapes. At that time its flesh is considered particularly 

 delicate and delicious, and it is consequently shot or snared in large 

 numbers for the tables of the wealthy. 



