THRUSHES. 93 



wild fruits. In summer insects are abundant, 

 and especially large caterpillars ; for which they 

 resort to the hedges, bushes, and groves. The 

 voices of most of the species are loud and shrill ; 

 but many are admired songsters, and some, both 

 in the Old and in the New World, are among the 

 most eminent performers in the woodland orches- 

 tra. " The notes of some are pensive and melan- 

 choly, while others possess considerable compass 

 of voice, accompanied with great melody. On 

 this account they are universal favourites, and in 

 all countries are listened to with pleasure, and 

 with feelings which recal many recollections and 

 associations of days which had long passed away." 

 The flesh of the species is juicy and savoury ; and 

 as they are mostly of a size sufficient to make 

 them worth capturing, and from their gregarious 

 habits may often be taken in great numbers with 

 little cost or labour, very many are killed for the 

 table, particularly in the south of Europe, and in 

 North America ; in the latter the destruction of 

 some of the kinds for human food is immense. 



Of the seven species which, either permanently 

 or occasionally, inhabit this country, we select 

 for illustration the Song-Thrush or Throstle, or 

 Mavis, (Turdus musicus, LINN.) which, though 

 scarcely extending beyond the geographical limits 

 of Europe, is found in every country within it, 

 and is spread over the British Islands, during the 

 whole year round. On the upper parts of the 

 body, its hue is a yellowish brown, on the breast 

 and sides, buff-orange, and on the belly, white ; 

 the whole under parts marked with triangular 

 spots of dark brown, running in chains. 



The name Song -Thrush applied to this species, 



