14 OUR tsatrt: songsters. 



The thrusli, though not so endearing to man 

 when in captivity, as are many caged songsters, 

 yet is not wanting in love to its kind. The 

 parent birds both share in the work of incubation, 

 and are very assiduous in the care of their young. 

 Mr. Knapp mentions an instance of tliouglitt'ul 

 care in a thrush which is very interesting. " We 

 observed, tliis summer," says tliis writer, " tvvo 

 common thrushes frequenting the shnibs on the 

 green in our garden. From the skMiderncss of 

 their forms, and the freshness of their phmiage, 

 we pronounced them to be birds of tlie preceding 

 summer. There was an association and fiieiulsliip 

 between them that called our attention to their 

 actions. One of them seemed ailing, or feebk^ 

 from some bodily accident ; for tliougli it lio])ped 

 about, yet it appeared unable to obtain sufficiency 

 of food. Its companion, an active sprigiitly bird, 

 would frequently bring it worms or bruised snails, 

 when tliey mutually partook of the banquet : and 

 the ailing bird would wait patiently, understand 

 the actions, expect the assistance of the otlier, 

 and advance from his asylum upon its ajiproach. 

 This procedure was continued for some days ; but 

 after a time, we missed the fostered bird, which, 



