FERRUGINOUS THRUSH. 233 



FEKKUGINOUS THRUSH.* (Turdus rufus) 



PLATE XIV.— Fig. 1. 



Fox-coloured Thrush, Catesb. i. 28. — Turdus rufus, Linn. Syst. 293.— Lath. iii. 39. 

 — La Grive de la Caroline, Briss. ii. 223. — Le Moquer Francois, Buff. iii. 

 323, PL enl. 645.— Arct. Zool. p. 335, No. 195.— Peale's Museum, No. 5285. \ 



ORPHJZUS BUFUS.-Bwaiss.on. 



Turdus rufus, Bonap. Synop. p. 75. — Orphseus rufus, Fox-coloured Mock Bird, 

 North. Zool. ii. p. 190. 



This is the brown thrush, or thrasher, of the middle and 

 eastern States, and the French mocking bird of Maryland, 



* This species, with 0. polyglottos, is the typical form of Mr Swain- 

 son's genus Orphceus, differing from Turdus in its longer form, chiefly 

 apparent from the greater length of its tail, its rounded and shorter 

 wings, its long and bending, and, in proportion, more slender bill. The 

 form is confined to the New "World, and will be represented in Africa 

 by Crateropus and Donocobius, Swain. ; and in Asia and Australia by 

 Pomatorhinus, Horsf. They appear to live nearer the ground than the 

 true thrushes, frequenting the lower brushwood ; and it is only during 

 the spring and breeding season that they mount aloft, to serenade their 

 mates. The cries or notes are generally loud ; some possess consider- 

 able melody, which, however, is only exercised as above mentioned ; 

 but many of the aberrant species possess only harsh and grating notes, 

 incessantly kept up ; in which respect they resemble the more typical 

 African form, and many of the aquatic warblers. 



In the account given by our author of the manners of 0. rufus, 

 we perceive a very close resemblance to our common blackbird. The 

 blackbird is seldom seen on lofty trees, except during the season of in- 

 cubation, or occasionally 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 kind of chuck. The manner 

 of flight, 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 ex- 



