ORDER PASSERES. 513 



the intermediate of the three front toes, and has the exterior 

 toe cemented to its base; the internal toe is free ; the first 

 remex very short, and the others variable in their respective 

 length. 



In consequence of the disposition of colours in the plumage 

 of these birds, Montbeillard made a separation of the thrushes 

 from the blackbirds, as in the former the breast is dappled, or 

 speckled (in French grivele, whence the name grive) ; and 

 in the latter, the colours are either uniform, or distributed 

 in large masses. Among the first, the sexes offer but few- 

 differences ; among the second they are much more marked. 

 The moulting, which appears to be generally simple, also 

 occasions some changes in the spots and bands ; but this effect 

 takes place in both families. Relatively to manners and habits, 

 the thrushes proper are, in general, erratic birds, and, when 

 they emigrate, form numerous assemblages, especially the 

 red-wing and field-fare. The blackbirds, on the contrary, 

 live generally isolated, or in families, and are so sedentary that 

 they will not quit their peculiar districts, where, if they are 

 not disturbed, they will nestle every year, and not unfrequently 

 on the same bush or tree, and even repairing the old nest, 

 when it is not too far gone. If they do remove a little, accord- 

 ing to the season, it is only to descend from the mountains 

 into the plain, or to pass from a place become too dry, and 

 destitute of fruits, into some neighbouring spot where fruits 

 and water are more abundant. Some naturalists set down as 

 a mark peculiar to the blackbirds only, the vertical motion of 

 the tail up and down, which is very frequent with them, and 

 almost always accompanied with a trembling of the wings, and 

 a short interrupted cry. This, however, has also been ob- 

 served with the field-fares, particularly those of Canada, whose 

 cry then resembles that of the common blackbird. 



The order in Avhich Montbeillard has described the birds 

 of this genus, is, first treating of the thrushes proper, and 

 mockers, and then of the blackbirds. M. Vieillot lias divided 



