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brown ; the upper part of its body is of an ash- 

 colour, spotted with brown and white ; the ends of 

 the quills and the tail-feathers are white, and the 

 breast and belly of a light grey ; it builds its nest 

 upon trees; this is a foot in length, of a cylindrical 

 form, lined within with wool and feathers, and com* 

 pletely guarded upon the outside with thorns, ex* 

 cept a small opening, by which the female enters and 

 deposits her eggs, which are four or five, and are 

 white speckled with brown. 



It is not in the power of language to convey an 

 idea of the song of the thenca, which has the sound 

 of a great number of birds whose notes are in accord; 

 it also possesses the property of imitating the note 

 of any other bird, and its strain is generally much 

 louder and more harmonious than that of the night- 

 ingale ; it is a gay and active bird, always in motion, 

 and even while singing continues hopping from one 

 bough to another. For this reason it will not bear 

 confinement, and if shut up in a cage soon dies. It 

 is usually to be met with near country-houses, and 

 feeds upon almost any thing, but appears to have a 

 decided preference for flies and tallow. 



The cur eu (turdus cureus) appears to be of a spe* 

 cies between the thrush and the black-bird ; to the 

 latter of which it has some resemblance, and is of the 

 same size. The bill is a little angular and bent towards 

 the point, the nostrils are covered with a thin mem- 

 brane, and the corners of the mouth furnished with 

 hairs ; the feet and position the toes are like those 

 of the black - bird, and its tail is cuneiform and about five 

 inches long : the whole plumage is of a glossy black, 



