TURDUS MUSICUS. 



Syit. Nat. 292. 



SONG THRUSH, OR THROSTLE. 



PLATE V. 



JL he bill is an inch long, the upper mandible of a 

 dusky colour, the lower yellow. The mouth within yel- 

 low, between the bill and eyes is a pale coloured spot, 

 and between that and the throat a dark one. The eyes 

 are brown, large, very bright, and piercing. 



The crown of the head, the back, and whole upper 

 side are of a pleasing olive colour, in some places inclin- 

 ing to the yellow, as about the lower part of the back, in 

 others more dusky, as about the head. 



In the wings are eighteen quill feathers of a dusky 

 olive colour, with pale coloured edges. The first and 

 second covert feathers have white tips, the feathers un- 

 der the wings are a kind of pale flame colour. 



The whole underside of the bird, from bill to tail, is 

 white, with only a faint dash of olive colour on the 

 sides of the breast, and the throat, breast, and belly ele- 

 gantly spotted with black spots of various figures, as in 

 the last species. 



The tail consists of twelve equal feathers of a dark 

 olive colour. The legs and feet are of a light horn 

 colour, the toes long and slender, and the claws black. 



The Throstle feeds on insects and berries, is fond of 

 the different kinds of bilberries. I have given fig-ures 

 of the * cranberry in flower, and with fruit. 



The cock bird perches on the uppermost twig of the 

 tallest trees, and sings stoutly from March to September. 



* Vacciniura oxycoccus. 



