i88 O^^lTHOLOqr. Book II. 



§. II. 



The Mavis, Throjile, or Song-thntfi. Tardus fimpliciter didus feu vifcivorus minor. 



IT is called vifcivorous, notbecaufeits feeds upon M#/ta-berries, but becaufeitis 

 like the Miffel-bird. It is lefler than the Fieldfare, fcarce bigger than the Red- 

 wing, of three ounces weight 3 from the point of the Bill to the end of the Tail or the 

 Feet, ( for all is one ) nine inches long. The Bill is an inch long, of a dusky colour 

 The Tongue, viewing it attentively, appears to be a little cloven : The Mouth within- 

 fideis yellow : The hides of the Eyes hazel-coloured. 



In the colour and fpots of the Breaft and Belly it agrees with the Miffel-bird- For 

 the fpots are dusky 5 the Breaft yellowifh 5 the Belly white. The upper furface of 

 the body is all over dusky, with a mixture of yellow in the Wings. [ I fhould rather 

 callthis an Olive-colour, from its likenefs to that of unripe pickled Olives, fuch as are 

 brought over to us out of Spain. ] 



This Bird for its outward fhape and colour is fo like the Redwing that they are hard 

 to be diftinguifhed ; Only this hath more and greater fpots on the Breaft and Belly. 

 Aldrovandm tells us, that it is proper to this kind to befpotted about the Eyes. The 

 leffer feathers, covering the Wings underneath, are of a yellowifh red colour: The 

 lower covert-feathers have yellow tips. The quill-feathers in each Wing are in num- 

 ber eighteen. The Tail is three inches and an half long, and made up of twelve 

 feathers. 



The Legs and Feet are of a light brown or dusky: The foals of the Feet yellow* 

 The exteriour toe grows to the middle one as far as the firft joynt. It hath a Gall- 

 bladder 3 the Stomach or Gizzard not fo thick and flelhy as in other birds of this 

 Tribe. Its feeding is rather upon Infects than berries : It eats alfo fhell-fnails, which 

 are by moft Naturalifts reckoned among Infecls. The Sex cannot be known by the 

 colour. It abides all the year, and breeds with us in England. It builds its Neft out- 

 wardly of earth, mofs, and ftraws, and within dawbs it with clay, laying its Eggs and 

 Young upon the bare clay 3 it lays at one fitting five or fix Eggs of a bluifh green co- 

 lour, fpeckled witha few fmall black fpots, thin-fet. In the Spring time it fits upon 

 trees and fings moft fweetly. Itis a folitary bird like the Shrite. Butit builds rather 

 in hedges than high trees. Moreover, itis a filly bird, and eafily taken. 



For the delicate tafte of its flefh it is by all highly and defervedly commended. 

 If we ftand to Martials judgment, theThrnJh is the beft meat of all birds : 



Inter aves Tardus, fiquid me judice verumefi, 

 Inter quadrupedes gloria prima lepus. 



This (faith a late Englilh Writer ) is a rare Song-bird, as well for the great variety 

 of his notes, as his long continuance in fong [at leaft nine months in the year.] They 

 breed commonly thrice a year, in April, May, and Jnne, but the firft birds prove ufu- 

 ally the beft. They may be taken in the Neft at fourteen days old or fooner, muft be 

 kept warm and neat,not fufrering them to fit upon their dung if it happen to fall into 

 the Neft. When they are young you muft feed them with raw meat, and fome bread 

 mixt and chopt together, with fome bruifed Hemp, wet their bread and mix it with 

 their meat. When they are well feathered, put them in a large Cage, with two or 

 three Perches in it, and dry Mofs at the bottom 5 and by degrees you may give them 

 no flefh at all, but only bread and hemp-feed. Give them frefh water twice a Week, 

 to bathe themfelves,otherwife they will not thrive. If he be not clean kept he is fubject. 

 to the Cramp, like other ringing birds. 



§. III. 



The Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris. 



fT weighs well nigh four ounces. Its length from the point of the Bill to the end 

 of the Tail, or utmoft Claws ( for they are equally extended ) is ten inches and an 

 half : Its breadth, the Wings being fpread, feventeen. The Bill is an inch long, like ■ 

 a Blackbirds, yellow fave the tip, which is black: The Bills of the Hens or young 

 birds are darker and lefs yellow, as in Blackbirds 3 the Tongue is rough, horny, 



channefd 



