THRUSHES. 
477 
composed of fine roots, moss, and dried herbs; and the eggs are pure light blue, 
without spots. The young are often reared from the nest by hand, especially in 
the north of Italy, and are much prized as cage-birds; the song of the rock-thrush 
being extremely beautiful, though not so fine as that of the blue rock-thrush, 
which we incline to place first in the rank of European songsters. Timid and 
fearful as is the rock-thrush in a state of freedom, if reared from the nest it 
becomes a charming pet; and we have kept both old and young birds, and found 
them tame and confiding. Although the rock-thrush is a very local and even rare 
bird in most parts of its range, and does not ordinarily migrate farther north than 
rock-thrush nat. size). 
Central France, stragglers have been identified in Great Britain, as well as in 
Heligoland. The food of the rock - thrush consists principally of beetles and 
other insects, but the bird shares the fondness of its congeners for wild berries 
and garden fruits. The adult male has the head and neck ashy blue; the scapulars 
are blackish, slightly washed with blue; the centre of the back is pure white; the 
tail and upper tail-coverts are light red; the entire throat ashy blue; while the 
rest of the under-parts are rufous orange. 
Bine The blue rock-thrush (31. cyanus ) is chiefly found in the countries 
Rock-Thrush, bordering the Mediterranean, and is a wild, shy bird of solitary 
disposition, resident in single pairs in rocky districts. Canon Tristram has shown 
that this bird is the “ sparrow that sitteth alone upon the housetop ” of the Psalmist. 
