312 



LAND BIRDS 



Nesl : Bulky ; in bushes and low trees. 



Eggs: i ; pale greenish blue, sparsely marked with brown. Size 1.13 

 X 0.80. 



ii^ 



From November to March the Varied Thrush, or 

 Varied Robin, as he is sometimes called, ranges locally 

 throughout the western part of California and is one 



of the handsomest of our win- 

 ter visitants. Wherever there 

 are holly berries, manzanita, or 

 mistletoe there are sure to be 

 flocks of these gayly 

 colored birds. Silent 

 and shy, they take 

 alarm at first sight of 

 an intruder and fly up 

 the caiion, lighting 

 here and there, but 

 keeping well ahead of 

 the observer. They 

 are often found, too, 

 along salt-water 

 beaches, sometimes in 

 company with the 

 Western robin, sometimes alone, but under all circum- 

 stances as silent as if they never sang, contenting them- 

 selves now and then with a rare chirp that is without 

 the faintest suggestion of their glorious summer music. 



When the first sunny spring days come, the Varied 

 Thrush starts on his trip northward, taking it by easy 

 stages, and en route he sometimes breaks into a sweet 



763. Varied Thkush. 



^^ Silent and shy.''^ 



