340 THE SOXG 



Diseases, and Mode of Taking. The remarks already made on 

 these heads, in the case of the Missel Thrush, apply to the 

 Song Thrush, as well as the three following species. Of all birds 

 it is most frequently caught in snares and nooses, and in Sep- 

 tember and October, before sunrise and after sunset, may often 

 be taken in the water-trap. Time must be allowed for them 

 to get fairly into the water, as in this case eight or ten may 

 often be taken at once. Their call when bathing is quite 

 peculiar, and never heard at any other time ; the first to find 

 the water cries very loudly, Seek, seek, Seeki! Tsah, tsdk! and 

 is answered with the same cry by all within hearing. The 

 Song Thrush is, however, a very cautious bird, and rarely goes 

 into the water till it sees another bird as, for example, a 

 Kedbreast already there. The first which ventures is soon 

 followed by others, and a fight ensues, if there be not room for 

 all. It is a good plan to have a decoy-bird fluttering about 

 near the water. 



Attractive Qualities. The Song Thrush is the great en- 

 livener of our woods ; announcing from the highest trees the 

 arrival of spring, by its varied and beautiful song, and con- 

 tinuing its melody throughout the summer. It is especially 

 fond of singing in the morning and evening twilight. Ama- 

 teurs prize it chiefly on account of its song, which, as early as 

 February, is heard in such sonorous and melodious strains as to 

 delight a whole neighbourhood. If its food be properly varied, 

 the Song Thrush will live for six or eight years. 



ADDITIONAL. The Song Thrush, Garden Thrush, Throstle, 

 or Mavis, is one of those birds which, whether in a state of 

 liberty or confinement, may always be listened to by the lover of 

 melody with gratification. It is one of the commonest as well as 

 the best of our native songsters ; indeed, we might perhaps say 

 the best, and in this we should be borne out by BOLTON, who 

 says, " It is the finest of our indigenous singing birds, not only for 

 the sweetness and variety of its notes, but for the long contin- 

 uance of them, as it delights us with its song for three parts of 

 the year." In this country, according to WHITE, the Throstle 

 begins to sing between the sixth and twenty-second of January, 

 and it may constantly be heard singing late into the autumn : as 

 a rule, it may be inferred, that early singers are also early 

 breeders. YARRELL says, " I remember to have seen young 

 Thrushes on the last day of March ;" and JENYNS, in his Manual, 

 telJs us that the young of the first brood are hatched about the 



