THE THROSTLE. 



TURDUS MUSICUS, LlNN. 



The Throstle is one of the finest singing birds 

 of this country. Every wood and every grove re- 

 echoes with its melodious notes in the spring — 

 frequently as early as February, if the weather 

 is mild. Its strain is often kept up for hours 

 without cessation. Its tone is loud, sweet, and 

 varied, though not so deep and mellow as that of 

 the Blackbird. Its note of anger is very loud 

 and harsh, between a chatter and a shriek. 



The Throstle is generally termed by poets Mavis, 

 as the Blackbird is called the Merle : 



Merry is it in the good greenwood, 

 When the Mavis and Merle are singing. 



Scott. 



This bird is found in various parts of Europe ; 

 and is said to be migatory in some places, but con- 

 tinues in England the whole year. 



The food of the Thrush in a wild state is in- 

 sects and berries of various kinds ; and it appears 

 particularly fond of shell snails, especially the 

 Helix nemoralis, whose fragile tenement it breaks 

 by reiterated strokes against some stone. It is 

 not uncommon to find a great quantity of fragment 



