FERRUGINOUS THRUSH. 153 
Carolinas.* Itis the largest of all our Thrushes, and is a well-known 
and very distinguished songster. About the middle or 20th of April, 
ot generally about the time the cherry-trees begin to blossom, he 
arrives in Pennsylvania, and, from the tops of our hedge-rows, sassa- 
fras, apple or cherry-trees, he salutes the opening morning with his 
charming song, which is loud, emphatical, and full of variety. At that 
serene hour, you may plainly distinguish’ his-voice fully half a mile 
off. These notes are not-imitative, as his name would import, and as 
some people believe, but seem solely his own; and have considerable 
resemblance to the notes of the Song Thrush (Turdus musicus) of 
Britain. ~ Early in May he builds his nest, choosing a thorn bush, low 
cedar, thicket of briers, dogwood sapling, or cluster of vines, for its 
situation, generally within a few feet of the ground. Outwardly, it is 
constructed of small sticks; then layers of dry leaves, and, lastly, 
lined with fine, fibrous roots, but-without any plaster. The eggs are 
five, thickly sprinkled with ferruginous grains, on a very pale bluish 
ground. They generally have two broods in a season. Like all birds 
that build near the ground, he shows great anxiety for the safety 
of his nest and young, and often attacks the black snake in their 
defence ; generally, too, with success, his strength being greater, and 
his bill stronger and more powerful, than any other of his tribe within’ 
the United States. His food consists of worms, which he scratches 
from the ground, caterpillars, and many kinds of berries. Beetles, 
and the whole race of coleopterous insects, wherever he can meet 
with them, are sure to suffer. He is accused, by some people, of 
scratching up the hills of Indian corn, in planting time; this may be 
partly true; but, for every grain of maize he pilfers, 1 am persuaded he 
destroys five hundred insects; particularly a large dirty-colored grub, 
with a black head, which is more pernicious to the corn, and other 
grain and vegetables, than nine tenths of the whole feathered race. 
He is an active, vigorous bird, flies generally low, from one thicket to 
another, with his long, broad tail spread like a fan; is often seen about 
brier 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 suffer severely, they disappear for the season. In passing through 
the southern parts of Virginia, and south as far as Georgia, in the 
depth of winter, I found them lingering in sheltered situations, par- 
ticularly on the border of swamps and rivers. On the first of March, 
on lofty trees, except during the season of incubation, or oceasionally in search of 
a roosting place ; its true habitat is brushwood or shrubbery, and, unless at one 
season, its only note is that of alarm, shrill and rapid, or a kindof chuck. The 
- manner of fli ht, when raised from cover, along a hedge, or among bushes, with the 
tail expanded, is also similar ; we have thus two types of very nearly allied genera, 
varying decidedly in form, but agreeing ‘almost entirely in habit. "The gregarious 
Thrushes, again, possess much more activity, enjoy lofty forests, or the open 
country, and protect themselves by vigilance, not by stealth and concealment. 
This species was met by Dr. Richardson at Carlton House. It extends from 
Pennsylvania to the Saskatchewan ; but Dr. Richardson thinks it probable that it 
does not extend its range beyond the 54th parallel of latitude. t quits the Fur 
countries, with the other migratory birds, early in September. — Ep. , 
* See p. 113, for the supposed origin of this name. 
