210 WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIRDS. 



warmer climate.* The principal time of passage is from the 

 15th of September to the 15th of October, and of return, 

 about the middle or end of March ; each pair then returns to 

 its own district, and the male warbles his hymn to spring 

 from the same tree where he had sung the preceding year. 



" In confinement, this bird is lodged like the Missel Thrush, 

 and is much more worthy of being kept, as its voice is more 

 beautiful, its song more varied, and it being smaller it makes 

 less dirt. 



" This species generally build on the lower branches of trees, 

 the nest being pretty large and formed of moss mixed with 

 earth or cow-dung. The hen lays twice a year, from three 

 to six green eggs, speckled with large and small dark brown 

 spots. The first brood is ready to fly by the end of April. 

 The upper part of the body in the young ones is speckled 

 with white. By taking them from the nest when half-grown, 

 they may be easily reared on white bread soaked in boiled 

 milk, and they are easily taught to perform airs. As this 

 thrush builds by preference in the neighborhood of water, 

 the nest may be easily found by seeking it in the woods be- 

 side a stream, and near it the male will be heard singing. 



"Of all the birds for which snares are laid, those for the 

 thrush are most successful. A perch with a limed twig is 

 the best method for catching a fine-toned male. In Septem- 

 ber and October, these birds may be caught in the water 

 traps, where they repair at sunrise and sunset, and sometimes 

 so late that they cannot be seen, and the ear is the only guide. 

 When they enter the water, haste must be avoided, because 

 they like to bathe in company, and assemble sometimes to 

 the number of ten or twelve at once, by means of a particu- 

 lar call. The first which finds a convenient stream, and 

 wishes to go to it, cries in a tone of surprise or joy ' sik, 

 sik, sik, siki, tsac, tsac, tsac" 1 immediately all the neighbor- 

 hood reply together, and repair to the place. They enter the 

 bath, however, with much circumspection, and seldom ven- 



* In Britain they remain all the year. 



