66 THE BROWN THRUSH. 



in all their vigor and strength. In the month of May, while 

 the blooming orchards perfume the air and decorate the 

 landscape, his enchanting voice, in his affectionate lay, seems 

 to give grateful utterance for the bounty and teeming pro- 

 fusion of nature, and falls in pleasing unison with the har- 

 mony and beauty of the season. And even the young birds, 

 in a state of solitary domesticity, without the aid of their 

 parent's voice, already whisper forth in harmonious reverie 

 the pathetic and sweet warble instinctive to the species. 



Deprived of other society, in a state of captivity, the brown 

 thrush is exceedingly familiar, cheerful, and capriciously 

 playful. He courts the attention of his keeper, follows his 

 steps, complains when neglected, flies to him when permitted 

 to be at large, and gratefully sings and reposes when perched 

 on his hand. In short, in all his actions, he appears capable of 

 real and affectionate attachment ; but, like many other animals, 

 he is jealous of every rival, particularly any other bird, which 

 he drives from his presence with unceasing hatred. 



FOOD AND MANAGEMENT. 



According to Audubon, the natural food of this species con- 

 sists of insects, worms, berries, and fruits of all sorts, being 

 particularly fond of ripe pears and figs. In winter, they 

 resort to the berries of the sumach, holly, dogwood, and shriv- 

 elled wild grapes. 



In a state of confinement, these birds may be reared in the 

 same manner, and on the same kind of food as their congener, 

 the mocking bird. In the autumn, of the first season, the 

 young begin their musical studies, " repeating passages with 

 as much zeal as ever did Paganini." By the following spring, 

 their lessons are complete and the full powers of their song 

 developed. 



Like the American robin, the brown thrush suffers much in 

 moulting, and often nearly loses all his feathers at once. 



mm^ — — mi^ 



