THE SINGING BIRDS. 207 



defiance. With the Missel Thrush this defiance is no idle boast, for the sneaking Magpie, the 

 light-winged Kestrel, and even the Sparrow Hawk, are at those times compelled to keep their distance, 

 as the Thrush is too vigilant to be taken by surprise, and under the sprays where these birds contend 

 with him on equal terms he keeps them all at bay. Nor is he the guardian of his own family only — 

 he is in some measure the warder of the whole grove, and when the harsh but shrill sound of his 

 bugle-note of alarm is heard, all the warblers take heed of the danger, and the chorus is mute until he 

 again mounts the highest branch and raises the song of thankfulness for deliverance." 



THE SONG THRUSH. 



The Song Thrush (Turdus musicus) is considerably smaller than the Missel Thrush, its length 

 being eight inches and a half, and its breadth twelve and three-quarters ; its wing measures four inches 

 and one-sixth, and its tail three inches and a quarter. The upper portion of the body is olive-grey, 

 the under side yellowish white, marked with triangular oval brown spots, which are less numerous 

 on the belly than in the species above described ; the lower wing-covers are also palish yellow, instead 

 of white, and the feathers on the upper covers tipped with dirty reddish yellow. The sexes differ 

 only in their size ; the young are recognisable by the yellowish streaks and brown spots on the tips 

 of the feathers of the upper part of their body. Like the Missel Thrush, this species inhabits the 

 whole of Europe, being, however, especially numerous in its extreme north, and rarely breeding 

 in the most southern portions of the continent, which are usually only visited during the winter 

 months ; it is also frequently met with in China, and during its migrations wanders as far as North- 

 western Africa, but is rarely seen in the north-eastern provinces of that continent. Notwithstanding 

 the very quarrelsome disposition usually displayed by these birds, many interesting anecdotes have 

 been recorded concerning the great affection they display towards each other. Amongst these 

 Yarrell mentions a touching instance, related by Mr. Knapp : — " We observed," says the latter, 

 " two common Thrushes frequenting the shrubs on the green in our garden ; from the slendemess 

 of their forms and the freshness of their plumage, we pronounced them to be birds of the preceding 

 summer. There was an association of friendship between them that called attention to their 

 actions. One of them seemed ailing or feeble from some bodily accident, for, though it hopped 

 about, it appeared unable to obtain a sufficiency of food. Its companion, an active, sprightly 

 Thrush, would frequently bring it worms or bruised snails, when they mutually partook of the 

 banquet ; the ailing bird would then wait patiently, understand the actions, and expect the assistance 

 of the other, and advance from his asylum on its approach. This procedure was continued for some 

 days, but after a time we missed the fostered invalid, which probably died, or, by reason of its 

 weakness, met with some fatal accident." (The egg of the Song Thrush is shown in Fig. 14, 

 Coloured Plate XVI.) 



THE FIELDFARE, OR JUNIPER THRUSH. 

 The Fieldfare, or Juniper Thrush {Turdus pilaris), is ten inches long and sixteen and 

 a half broad ; the wing measures five and a half and the tail about four inches. The plumage of 

 this species is unusually variegated : the head, nape, and rump are deep grey ; the upper part of the 

 back and region of the shoulder dull chestnut-brown; the quills and tail-feathers black, the former and 

 the feathers of the wing-covers being grey upon the outer web and tip ; the exterior tail-feathers are 

 bordered with white ; the front of the throat is dark reddish yellow, spotted longitudinally with black ; 

 the feathers on the breast are brown, with a whitish edge ; the rest of the under side is quite white ; 

 the eye is brown, the beak yellow, and the foot dark brown. The female is somewhat paler than 

 her mate. 



