204 



THE BLUE THRUSH. 



Turdus cyancus, LINNJEUS ; Le Merle bleu, BUFFON ; Die olau Droseel. 

 BECHSTEIN. 



THIS bird is rather larger than the common blackbird, its 

 length being eight inches, three of which belong to the tail. 

 The beak, fourteen lines in length, is blackish, the iris dark 

 nut brown, the eyelids yellow ; the shanks, thirteen lines in 

 height, are blackish ; the whole plumage is of an ash blue, but 

 each feather has near its tip a transverse brown line, and the tip 

 itself is whitish. The individual birds vary in the depth of the 

 blue, according to their age and sex. 



The female is generally more uniform in colour than the 

 male. 



HABITATION. When wild the blue thrush is found in the Archipelago, 

 in Dalmatia, Italy, Spain, and other southern countries, always among steep 

 rocks. 



In confinement it is provided with a convenient cage, like the preceding. 



FOOD. When wild it feeds on all sorts of insects. 



In confinement it is fed like the nightingale. 



BREEDING. Like the rock thrush it builds among rocks, on ruined or 

 deserted towers, and the like. The young are reared in the same way a* 

 those of the nightingale. 



ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES. Its pretty plumage and fine voice do not con- 

 stitute its only attractions. It is very easily tamed, and is very capable of 

 instruction, and amuses much by its natural gait and habits, which very 

 much resemble those of the rock thrush. 



THE REED THRUSH. 



Tordus rundinaceu5, LINNJEUS ; La Rousserole, BOPFON ; Die Rohrdrouel, 

 BECHSTEIN. 



THIS bird has so much resemblance to the whitethroats, aa 

 to cause a hesitation whether it should be ranged with them or 

 with the thrush ; but the form of the beak and feet, and 

 generally the whole colour of the body, are in favour of the 

 Litter. The total length is at most eight inches, four and a 

 quarter of which belong to the tail, which is of a rounded 

 wedge-shape. The beak is ten lines in length, and strong, 

 flattish, brown at the point, yellowish at the base, and orangt* 



