J 



266 LESSER ROCK THRUSH. 



It has been buffeted about from genus to genus, 

 by various authors, but it certainly claims a place 

 in the present in preference: it has an agree- 

 able note of its own, and can imitate that of 

 others: it makes its nest among holes in rocks, 

 _ hiding it with great art, and laying three or four 

 eggs : it feeds on worms and insects, upon which 

 it also rears its young : it is a sly bird. 



Found in many parts of Europe, from Italy to 

 Russia : it will learn to speak as well as a Starling. 



LESSER ROCK THRUSH. 



(Turdus saxatilis.) 



Tu. capife cceruleo, cauda Jerruginea. 

 Thrush with a blue head, and ferruginous taiL 

 Turdus saxatilis. Gmel. Syst. Nat, 2g4, 14. — Lath, hid, Orn. 

 1.336.33. 



Lanius infaustus minor. Gmel. Syst. Nat, 1. 310. 25. b. 

 Merula saxatilis minor. Briss, 2. 240. 14. 

 Merle de roche. Buff, Hist, Nat. Ois. 3. 351. t, 23.— Buff, 

 PI. Enl. 562, 



Lesser Rock Shrike. Lath, Gen. Syn, 1. 177* 27. a. 



Rather less than the Fieldfare : its head, throat, 

 and neck, blueish ash-colour, varied with rufous 

 and brown spots: the lower part of the back is 

 ash-coloured and white ; the rest of it and the 

 rump blackish, variegated with grey blue and 

 rufous : the under parts of the body and tail si- 

 milar to those of the former species. Inhabits va- 

 rious parts of Europe, particularly Austria, where 



