THE SONG TIIKUSH. 339 



coverts are light orange ; the pen feathers greyish brown, as 

 are also the tail feathers, the outermost of which are edged 

 with white on the external plume. 



In the female several little streaks are substituted for the 

 black lines on the throat ; the breast is a pale whitish yellow ; 

 and the orange tips of the wing coverts are not so large as in 

 the male. As is the case with all the commoner singing birds. 

 there are several varieties of the Thrush ; e. g. The White, 

 "White -headed, Mottled, Grey and others. 



Habitat. The Song Thrush is a well-known bird throughout 

 Europe, and frequents woods near streams and meadows. 

 When the weather begins to break in September, it collects in 

 large flocks, and migrates to a warmer climate. A little 

 before and a little after Michaelmas, is the time when it is 

 usually met with in its passage. It returns about the middle 

 of March, or a little later, when every male may be heard 

 singing his spring song, perched on the same tree from which 

 he sang the year before. 



In confinement, the Song Thrush may be treated like the 

 Missel Thrush, though perhaps more deserving of a handsome 

 cage, both because it sings better, and is a smaller and less 

 dirty bird. 



Food. In a wild state its food is the same as that of the 

 Missel Thrush ; and in the aviary it may be treated in almost 

 the same manner. Barley groats and milk are an excellent 

 diet for it ; and it requires a constant supply of fresh water 

 both for bathing and drinking. It is sometimes difficult to 

 induce old birds, when first caught, to eat the food of the aviary. 



Breeding. The Song Thrush prefers to build its nest on 

 small pine or fir trees ; or, when these are not to be found, on 

 the thick lower branches of beeches, oaks, aspens, pear, and 

 apple trees. The nest is large, and is constructed of various 

 kinds of lichen, mixed with earth, loam, or cow-dung. The 

 female lays twice a year, from three to six green eggs, covered 

 with blackish brown spots. The first brood is usually fledged 

 about the middle or end of April. On the upper part cf the 

 body, the young have a spotty appearance ; and if taken from 

 the nest when half fledged, and fed with bread and milk, leam 

 to whistle airs and tunes. The Song Thrush builds by pre- 

 ference near water ; and the nest may easily be found in the 

 situations above described. 



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