352 THE REED THRUSH. 



143. THE EEED THRUSH 

 Tiirdus Arundinaceus, LIN. Rvusserole, BUF. Die Rohvdrossel, BEOH. 



Description. This bird resembles the Whitethroats in so 

 many respects, as to render it doubtful whether it should be 

 classed with them or with the Thrushes ; though its beak and 

 feet, as well as the general form of its body, seem to ally it 

 to the latter species. It is rather larger than the Skylark, 

 being eight inches in length, of which the tail, which is wedge- 

 shaped, and rounded at the end, measures four inches and a 

 quarter. The beak is ten lines long, strong, compressed at the 

 root ; on the upper, arid at the point of the lower mandible, 

 horn brown, and yellowish at the root. The iris is dark 

 brown; the feet one inch in height, strong, greyish brown, 

 inclining to flesh-colour, and having a very long hinder claw. 

 in colour the Eeed Thrush is very like the Nightingale ; the 

 upper part of the head and neck are dark grey, tinged with 

 olive green; a dingy yellowish white stripe runs from the 

 nostrils to that part of the forehead between the eyes ; the 

 cheeks are greyish brown. The upper and centre part of the 

 back are rusty grey, becoming gradually lighter towards the 

 rump, which is rusty yellow. The chin and throat are light 

 grey ; the breast and belly yellowish white, the former having 

 a dark grey spot on each side near the neck. The sides, 

 shanks, and vent, are white, strongly marked with rust colour, 

 which gives a yellow appearance to all the lower part of the 

 body. The pen feathers are dark brown, with a narrow bor- 

 der of rusty yellow ; the tail feathers reddish grey, edged with 

 a lighter shade of the same. 



The female is scarcely distinguishable from the male. It is 

 somewhat smaller, darker on the upper, but lighter on the 

 lower part of the body. The top of the head is marked with 

 rust colour, and the throat is not ashen grey, but white. 



Habitat. The Eeed Thrush is a native of all but the coldest 

 parts of Europe ; and is common in Germany, where it fre- 

 quents those districts which abound in reedy ponds and lakes, 

 or in extensive bogs and morasses. It is rarely seen upon a 

 tree, but climbs up the reeds and bullrushes, like a Woodpecker. 

 In confinement it may be kept in a Nightingale's cage. 



Food. In a wild state it devours great numbers of aquatic 

 nsects, and occasionally eats elderberries. In the aviary i\ 



