THE THRUSH. 20Q 



Similarity of the cock and hen. 



upon a paste, made of crumb of bread and rape 

 seed, of which he consumed fifty-two pounds in 

 the course of the year. This is a curious obser- 

 vation, affording a medium of judging of the 

 quantity of food taken by a bird, and of the de- 

 predations which some of the smaller species 

 commit on the produce of our fields. 



" This tame thrush was subject to the gout; 

 one of his legs swelled, he appeared to suffer 

 great pain ; the fits lasted several days ; his death 

 was the consequence of an accident." 



The cock and hen of this kind are so much 

 alike in colour and shape, as already observed, 

 that, notwithstanding the most minute and care- 

 ful examination, no certain marks have been dis- 

 covered to know the one from the other, except- 

 ing that when in full feather, the dusky or olive- 

 colour on the cock's back, is somewhat darker 

 than the back of the hen ; he has also a more 

 glossy cast; the spots on his breast and belly 

 seem darker, and rather more white appears on 

 his belly. 



It is observable, that in the cocks and hens of 

 all kinds of birds, where the colours are the same 

 in both, yet the cock-bird constantly excels the 

 hen in the resplendency of his feathers; in the 

 song-thrush, in an old bird, this difference is ap- 

 parent. 



In young thrushes it is best to chuse the sleek- 

 est and brightest bird; when they begin to feed 

 themselves, both cocks and hens will record ; th 



TOL. III. NO. XX. 2 D 



