26 FERRUGINOUS THRUSH. 



active, vigorous bird, flies generally low, from one thicket to another, 

 with his long broad tail spread like a fan ; is often seen about briar and 

 bramble bushes, along fences ; and has a single note or chuck, when 

 you approach his nest. In Pennsylvania they are numerous, but never 

 fly in flocks. About the middle of September, or as soon as they have 

 well recovered from moulting, in which they suff'er severely, they dis- 

 appear for the season. In passing through the southern parts of Vir- 

 ginia, and south as far as Georgia, in the depth of winter, I found them 

 lingering in sheltered situations, particularly on the border of swamps 

 and rivers. On the first of March they were in full song round the 

 commons at Savannah, as if straining to outstrip the Mocking-bird, that 

 prince of feathered musicians. 



The Thrasher is a welcome visitant in spring to every lover of rural 

 scenery and rural song. In the months of April and May, when our 

 woods, hedge-rows, orchard and cherry trees are one profusion of blos- 

 soms, when every object around conveys the sweet sensations of joy, 

 and heaven's abundance is as it were showering around us, the grateful 

 heart beats in unison with the varying elevated strains of this excellent 

 bird ; we listen to its notes with a kind of devotional ecstasy, as a morn- 

 ing hymn to the great and most adorable Creator of all.- The human 

 being who, amidst such scenes, and in such seasons of rural serenity 

 and delight, can pass them with cold indifi"erence, and even contempt, I 

 sincerely pity ; for abject must that heart be and callous those feelings, 

 and depraved that taste, which neither the charms of nature, nor the 

 melody of innocence, nor the voice of gratitude or devotion can 

 reach. 



This bird inhabits North America from Canada to the point of Florida. 

 They are easily reared, and become very familiar when kept in cages ; 

 and though this is rarely done, yet I have known a few instances where 

 they sung in confinement with as much energy as in their native woods. 

 They ought frequently to have earth and gravel thrown in to them, and 

 have plenty of water to bathe in. 



The Ferruginous Thrush is eleven inches and a half long, and thir- 

 teen in extent ; the whole upper parts are of a bright reddish brown ; 

 wings crossed with two bars of white, relieved with black ; tips and 

 inner vanes of the wings dusky ; tail very long, rounded at the end, 

 broad, and of the same reddish brown as the back ; whole lower parts 

 yellowish white ; the breast,- and sides under the wings, beautifully 

 marked with long pointed spots of black, running in chains ; chin white ; 

 bill very long and stout, not notched, the upper mandible overhanging 

 the lower a little, and beset with strong bristles at the base, black above, 

 and whitish below near the base; legs remarkably strong and of a 

 dusky clay color ; iris of the eye brilliant yellow. The female may be 

 distinguished from the male by the white on the wing being much nar- 



