THE THRUSH. 257 



Then, hallowed be this ivied bower, 



This home of love endearing, 

 Where mutual wishes sink to rest, 



With thoughts for ever cheering. {^^) 



(+5) Order, Passeres, {Linn.) Thrush, Missel-Thrush, 

 Fieldfare, Ring-Ouzel, &;c. 



The genus -TuRDus, (Linn.) or Thrush, now comprehends 

 above two hundred and thirty species, scattered over the globe; 

 the number described by Linnaeus was only twenty-eight. 

 Several are inhabitants of this country. Many of the tribe sing 

 exquisitely, among which may be named, the Missel, the 

 Throstle, or Song-Thrush, the Redwing, the Blackbird, and a 

 vast crowd of foreign birds, including the Mocking-Bird, They 

 are distinguished by having the outer toe connected with the 

 middle membrane, as far as the first joint ; the bill is denticu- 

 lated towards the point ; they are generally subject to a va- 

 riation of colour at different seasons of the year. They are 

 baccivorous, but they also eat insects, worms, and snails ; none 

 of them feeds on grain. The following are the chief: 



The Musicus, Song-Thrush, Thrush, Throstle, Dirsh, or 

 Mavis,* has the head, back, and upper coverts of the wings 

 deep olive-brown j throat mottled with brown and white ; belly 

 and breast pale yellow, with large black spots ; nine inches 

 long. Inhabits the woods of Europe, generally, and frequent 

 in this country. Builds in a low bush, or in an ivied tree ; (for 

 a description of the nest see the Introduction.) Eggs five, pale-- 

 blue, with blackish spots. In France said to be migratory, in 

 England remains all the year. Remarkably prolific, producing 

 sometimes three different families in a season. Of all the tribes, 

 the Mocking-Bird, perhaps, excepted, this is the most accom- 

 plished singer ; and it sings also at almost every season of the 

 year. There are several varieties in Europe ; three or four in 



k America. This, and indeed the whole tribe, are very useful 

 i 



* ** So doth the cuckoo when the mavis slugs." 



SPENCfc.It, Sonnet Ixxxv, 



