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beef added, allowing them, as soon as they could hop about, to

dabble round a saucer of water on the floor of the room.


They loved very early in life to hop into the shallow water

and wash in a babyish fashion, and by this means they kept

their feet clean.


In the autumn their plumage was much the same as the

adult female. A pretty speckled brown, the feathers having pale

margins, the breast of a warmer yellow, the tail rufous.


Males of a year old, or even two years old, in summer

plumage, are not nearly so brilliant as they are in their third and

consecutive years.


My Rock Thrush has always moulted most regularly and

most thoroughly in August or even the latter end of July, and

again in February, perhaps commencing towards the end of

January. At the beginning of March he is in full and perfect

breeding plumage. He has always been so regular in this

latter respect, however cold the weather may have been, that I

imagine one would find his relations who are at liberty in Africa

changing their feathers at precisely the same time of the year.


The larger feathers of the wing and the tail feathers are

only grown once a year at the autumnal moult. My bird always

moults very rapidly, the feathers coming out in showers when

once he commences, and the new ones appearing very quickly.

Fast season his breeding plumage was beautifully defined. The

cobalt blue of his head and neck being sharply outlined against

the rich chestnut of the whole breast and under surface. The

pure white patch on the back is very conspicuous when he is out

of his cage and runs along the floor of the room with his body

feathers puffed out like an angry cat’s fur, whilst he lowers his

head and depresses tightly the feathers on it.


The wings are brown ; the upper part of the back and the

shoulders being dark bluish grey ; the tail bright rufous, the

two centre feathers being browner. Round the eyes, which are

hazel, the skin becomes bright yellow as the breeding plumage

is assumed.


But what is most curious is the love song of the Rock

Thrush, with the accompanying attitudes and movements. My

bird treats me to this performance, and although he will go

through it whilst others are looking on (at a respectful distance),

I have never known him make love to anyone except n^self.

From March to July is the period during which he indulges in

these antics. It generally takes place on my entering the room



