50 THRUSH. 



and a half in breadth. The bill is a trifle curved, emarginated, and 

 black ; irides the same ; the plumage in general deep glossy black ; 

 rump, thighs, and tail, white as snow, except the ends of the two 

 middle feathers of the last, which are black for one inch and a half, 

 and of all the others for about half an inch ; the quills rusty black; 

 legs black. 



Inhabits the more southern parts of Spain, where there are steep 

 cliffs and rocky situations, likewise met with in Aragonia, Sardinia, 

 and Sicily. The Rev. J. White, who was many years resident at 

 Gibraltar, informed me, that he detected it there, and that the whole 

 conduct and way of life is similar to that of the Blue Thrush, but 

 much more timid and suspicious, haunting the most inaccessible 

 parts of the rock, and unfrequented walls, and Moorish ruins, that are 

 scattered about the hill at the greatest distance from the town, among 

 which it resides all the year round : not more than six or eight of 

 this species seem to inhabit the hill at one time, and though they 

 breed there annually, their number appears not to increase ; nor can 

 it be discovered whither they disperse themselves, being long sought 

 for in vain, throughout all the adjacent country ; hence it is difficult 

 to procure a specimen, as they in general skulk about the craggy and 

 inaccessible parts of the rock, where it is not easy for the sportsman 

 to follow them. Mr. White observes, that he has seen them most 

 frequent on the east side of the hill, near the road to Europa, and the 

 stone quarries, and it is among the steep cliffs that hang over the 

 sea in this place, that a pair of these birds generally builds. An old 

 inhabitant of Gibraltar informed him, that he once found a nest con- 

 taining four young ones, that he endeavoured to breed them up in 

 hopes of their singing, but that they were too tender and delicate to 

 be reared. 



The males have a soft and pleasing song, with no great compass 

 or variety, but it is extremely difficult to become a witness to their 

 singing, which instantly ceases on their perceiving any one approach- 

 ing. I do not learn what distinctions there are in respect to sex. 



