THE STONE THRUSH. 143 



THE STONE THRUSH. 



Tins bird, although very little known as a cage-bird, is a splendid songster, and 

 fairly rivals his better-known brother, the Brown Thrush. He inhabits but a limited 

 portion of Europe, chiefly the southern parts, and rarely appears in the northern 

 portions. He is commonly found in the mountainous or rocky districts, hence his 

 name. Alpine travellers have often noted his handsome appearance, and have often- 

 times been at a loss to find out his name, owing to his extreme rarity in a caged state. 



In his amusing postures and movements he greatly resembles the Starling, and, 

 like that bird, is also able to imitate the human voice, and to learn to distinctly pipe 

 a complete tune. 



The Stone Thrush is about seven inches and three-quarters in length, of which 

 the tail measures two inches and three-quarters. The beak is black, with yellow 

 corners, and about one inch long : the feet are very strong and black. The head 

 and iieck are grayish blue, lighter in old birds than in young ones. The upper part 

 of the back is dark brown, sometimes clouded with a lighter tinge, the middle a 

 beautiful white. The breast and belly are dark orange, the latter being spotted or 

 clouded with white more or less distinctly according to the time of year. The vent 

 is a pale yellowish red ; the wing coverts darkish brown, with white points ; the quill- 

 feathers very dark brown or blackish, the hinder ones somewhat lighter, whitish at 

 the points, and having a narrow white border on the farther side : the tail dark yel- 

 lowish red, with the two centre feathers grayish brown. 



The female has the upper part of the body dark brown, the feathers being bor- 

 dered with grayish white ; the rump is rust colored, with a similar edge ; the chin 

 white ; the front of the neck, and all the lower parts, a dirty orange, with brown and 

 white wavy lines ; the tail is somewhat lighter than that of the male. 



When in a wild state the Stone Thrush digs under stones after worms, these being 

 dainties in which he delights. His principal food when wild being insects, they 

 must be freely given him when caged ; as without them he is apt to become sick and 

 waste away. 



The Stone Thrush, when taken as a nestling, is remarkably docile and very play- 

 ful : he becomes the tamest of cage-birds, and in the process of becoming tame loses 

 none of his charms as a songster. 



His natural song is remarkably melodious ; and, while not so loud as the Brown 

 Thrush's song, the variety is equally as great. The Stone Thrush may be safely 

 recommended to any bird-lover who desires a night-songster, as he sings as freely 

 by gas or lamp light as he does by daylight : he sings about ten months of the year. 

 This bird is rarely caught by means of traps or limed twigs, but is taken from the 



