46 TREATISE ON 



birds are remarkable for the richness and variety 

 of their song, but still more for the deep-toned 

 mellowness of their notes. In the northern coun- 

 tries of Europe, and even in France, the throstle 

 is said to be a migi-atory bird, but with us it re- 

 iiiains, and braves our severest winters. Those 

 that migi'ate south in autumn fi'om Norway, Swe- 

 den, &c. seem to shun the British isles ; at least 

 they have never been observed to come in flocks 

 like their congeners the fieldfares and redwings. 

 BufFon says they are numerous during the ^dntage 

 in France, and, being very fond of grapes, they do 

 considerable damage to the ^dneyards, but, as soon 

 as grape-gathering is finished, they leave that 

 country for the south; and Sonini says he has 

 seen them in Egypt during the winter months. 



These birds begin to sing early in spring. We 

 have often remarked their regularity in this re- 

 spect, generally commencing in the \dcinity of 

 Edinburgh about the fourteenth of February, un- 

 less in very severe storms of snow, and they con- 

 tinue to sing for nearly nine months* of the year. 



Perched on the topmost branch of a tree, with 

 their heads turned to the west, — there, in the still- 

 ness of evening, they may be heard pouring out, in 

 full, and deep-toned melody, their vesper hymn to 



