THE SONG THRUSH. 33 



SPECIES 32 THE SONG THRUSH* 



Turdus musicus. Linn. 

 Merle grive. Temrn* 



Throstle. Mavis. 



THE common thrush is the most generally distributed of all 

 our song birds, few localities in our island being totally des- 

 titute of them. It is apparently esteemed a favourite with 

 the community, doubtless from its harmless habits and me* 

 lodious voice. Its food consists of insects, worms, snails, larvae, 

 and berries of various kinds, and when in the vicinity of the 

 shore it finds sustenance in the smaller shell-fish. When 

 searching for food, the thrush hops slowly along the ground, 

 and when an earthworm is observed, in a like manner with the 

 lapwing, it leaps in the vicinity, to startle and induce the 

 worm to emerge from its refuge, when it is instantly seized, 

 broken up, and swallowed. 



The song of the thrush is the first to herald the bright and 

 vernal footsteps of the spring ; and even in winter, when the 

 earth is covered with snow and ice, its inspiriting notes awake 

 the melody of the silent songsters. 



The thrush breeds early, and has generally two broods 111 

 the season. The first seldom comes to maturity on account 

 of the exposed and easily attained situation in which the nests 

 are built ; rarely escaping the prying eye of the village school- 

 boy, her beautifully marked eggs forming a temptation diffi- 

 cult to be resisted. 



The nest, generally placed in a holly tree, or other thick 

 bush, is at a small height from the ground, strongly and firmly 

 constructed, externally of roots, twigs, and mosses, firmly in- 

 terwoven ; and internally, thickly plastered with mixed clay 

 and cow-dung ; the eggs are generally five, and are of a bright 

 green colour, dotted with numerous small black spots. 



The familiar name by which the thrush is known in the 

 country is the u throstle," and by the poets, the " mavis," 



" Take thy delight in yonder goodly tree, 

 Where the sweet merle and warbling mavis be." 



The thrush is found in the most sterile and barren parts of 

 our island, differing from the blackbird, which is seldom found 

 at a distance from cultivation. To those who object not to 

 its loud and shrill melody, as a cage-bird this species is un- 

 exceptionable, and when kept clean becomes a pleasing song- 

 ster and an agreeable pet. When an unbroken snail is placed 



