COLLECTION OF BIRDS. 345 



of which we have one hundred and 

 sixty species. By the side of the common black- 

 bird {turdus merula), which is the first, we may 

 observe a white variety ; then the rose-coloured 

 thrush of the south of France, which is so useful 

 in destroying grasshoppers ; next comes the 

 mockbird {turdus polyglottus), famous for the 

 astonishing facility with which it imitates the 

 chirping of other birds, and all the voices it hears. 

 Below are the singing thrushes ; the largest is the 

 turdus viscivorus, which feeds on the misle- 

 toe berries, and propagates this parasitic plant 

 by sowing the seeds of it on the branches 

 of trees (2). The smallest is the mavis, which 

 arrives in large flights about the time the grapes 

 ripen ; and which is when fat very delicate 

 eating (3). 



(1) The merlins and thrushes are of the same genus. We give the 

 name of merlins, to those species whose colouris uniform; and that of 

 thrush, to those whose plumage is marked with small black or brown 

 spots. 



(2) The turdus pilaris differs but little from the turdus viscivorus ; 

 but the white variety is very rare; that in the Museum, was given to 

 Buffon by Lewis XVI, who had killed it when hunting. 



(3) The Romans thought much of this species, which they called 

 turdus, and is still called tourdre in the South of France. Horace, 

 speaking of the presents to be made to one whose property it was 

 desirable to inherit, says : 



turdus 



Sivc a/iud privum dabiiur iihi ; dcvolet illuc 

 Bes ubi magna nitet domino sine. 



