THRUSHES. 51 



distance they are very agreeable; they possess the power of 

 prying from the lowest tc the highest tones. In captivity their 

 Toice loses its brilliancy and becomes even hoarse and false. 

 This blackbird loves solitude ; it only keeps in the thickest and 

 most distant copses. It feeds on worms and insects, and very 

 adroitly breaks snail shells against rocks or stones. . The female 

 constructs her nest with great art, which is well cushioned on the 

 inside and covered on the outside with grass. She ordinarily lays 

 four or five blue eggs, covered with brown spots. 



13. The Grive,or Common Thrush, Tvrdus mnsicus, some- 

 what smaller than the preceding, is brown on the back, reddish 

 yellow with black spots on the neck and breast, white on the 

 belly and flanks, with black spots ; the wings are brown above, 

 yellow beneath ; the beak is brown, and the -tarsi are brownish 

 gray. It is met with in France only as a bird of passage ; it 

 arrives there in great flocks at the end of September, and sojourns 

 nearly a month ; then it returns in March and April to disappear 

 again in May. A few individuals however, remain, and build 

 on low trees or bushes ;. they lay two. or three times a year, from 

 four to six eggs each time. The song of the Thrush is agreeable, 

 and its flesh is delicate ; it announces the return of spring, and 

 remains during three quarters of the year. It is often heard 

 when the skies are heavy with clouds; which circumstance has 

 gained foit, in some countries, the title of bird of storms. When 

 this Thrush is disturbed, his hoarse and noisy song seems to be a 

 mixture of warbling and cries. In its ordinary condition, its 

 gammut is, on the contrary, a scale of soft and grave tones: it 

 often sings many hours together without the slightest interruption. 

 When reared with the Linnet and Nightingale, it seems to study 

 their song, and ends by appropriating it. The American Robin 

 or Migrating Tkrush^ Turdns tnigratoriits, is found in summer 

 throughout the North American continent. The Robin Red-breast, 

 which is said to have covered, with a leafy shroud, the lost and 

 wandering " babes in the wood," is held in universal lespect. Its 

 song, "however, has not the compass and variety of the preceding 

 species. 



14. The Missle T/trush, Turdus viscivorus, the Litorne* 

 Turdus pilaris, and the Mavis, Turdvs iliacus, are three 

 other species of Thrush which are also found in Europe. 



15. The Mucking Bird, Turdm polyylottus an American 

 bird, celebrated for the astonishing facility with which it un 



13. What are the habits of the Grive or Common Thrush ? 



14. What other Thrushes are found in Europe? 



15. What is the Mocking bird ? 



