52 THE THRUSH, 



THE THRUSH. 



The Thrush is rather less than the black- 

 bird ; its plumage is of a deep olive colour 

 on the head, neck, back, wings, and tail; 

 and its throat, breast, and belly, are of a 

 yellowish white, marked with a number of 

 dusky spots : its legs are yellow. 



The male and female of this bird are so 

 much alike in colour, that it is extremely 

 difficult to know the cock from the hen, 

 unless it be by the superior brilliancy of his 

 colours. In young thrushes I would al- 

 ways choose the sleekest and brightest bird. 

 When they begin to feed themselves, both 

 cocks and hens will record ; in doing which, 

 the cock will get upon his perch, and sing his 

 notes low for some time ; the hen will also 

 attempt to sing, but will only do it by jerks : 

 at the latter end of Summer, when their 

 moulting is over, the cocks will break out 

 strong in song, and sing in Winter as well 

 as Summer. 



