on four well-knozvn Thrushes of North America. 105


similarly coloured, and to this day he is highly prized by the

people of New England, who have protected him so that he has,,

like they themselves, multiplied greatly and taken up his abode

in towns and cities.


This Thrush is extremely handsome with his dark ashy-

grey upper parts, inclining to black on the head, his white throat

streaked longitudinally with black, his chestnut breast, white

abdomen and under tail-coverts. His shape, size, and general

bearing, remind one strongly of our Blackbird, as well as of the

Fieldfare, but the American birds flock together in very much

greater numbers on migration.


Let Mr. Nehrling again help us with his original observa¬

tions upon this Thrush.


“The early spring flowers still sleep beneath snow and ice,

“the cold north and west winds still wildly sweep the northern

“ part of our country. All nature seems dead. Suddenly, and

“entirely unexpectedly, a loud song of jubilation is carolled from

“the top of a neighbouring elm. There, in the top of yonder

“ dark green pine is perched another one of these singers. They

“are Robins, just returned from their winter quarters, heralding

“ in reverberating jubilation the approach of spring. This, our

“ beautiful familiar Thrush, certainly merits the name ‘harbinger

“of the vernal season,’ for it is one of the first of our birds to


“arrive from the south.Usually it will remain in


“spite of the wintry garment covering nature, searching for

“ food in spots where the snow has melted, and enlivening its

“ habitation with its powerful music. . . . All our Thrushes,


“ with few exceptions, are timid and shy, and shun the society of

“man. Most of them retreat to the deep woodland solitudes

“ far from the abodes of man. All this is different with the Robin.

“ Though originally a true forest bird, it has now everywhere

“ attached itself to man, and, though still retaining its former

“ sagacity and vigilance, has become quite confiding and fearless.

“ You can find the Robin everywhere, in field and forest, in

“ meadow and marsh, 011 hills and in valleys, in parks and gar-

“ dens, and even high up in the mountains.” . . .


The same writer goes on to describe the bird’s song.


“It is during the breeding-season that the Robin’s truly

‘ melodious and pleasing song is loudest.



