THE BROWN THRUSH. 
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in all their vigor and strength. In the month of May, while 
the blooming orchards perfume the air and decorate the 
landscape, his enchanting voice, in his affectionate lay, seems 
to give grateful utterance for the bounty and teeming pro¬ 
fusion of nature, and falls in pleasing unison with the har¬ 
mony and beauty of the season. And even the young birds, 
in a state of solitary domesticity, without the aid of their 
parent’s voice, already whisper forth in harmonious reverie 
the pathetic and sweet warble instinctive to the species. 
Deprived'of other society, in a state of captivity, the brown 
thrush is exceedingly familiar, cheerful, and capriciously 
playful. He courts the attention of his keeper, follows his 
steps, complains when neglected, flies to him when permitted 
to be at large, and gratefully sings and reposes when perched 
on his hand. In short, in all his actions, he appears capable of 
real and affectionate attachment; but, like many other animals, 
he is jealous of every rival, particularly any other bird, which 
he drives from his presence with unceasing hatred. 
FOOD AND MANAGEMENT. 
According to Audubon, the natural food of this species con¬ 
sists of insects, worms, berries, and fruits of all sorts, being 
particularly fond of ripe pears and figs. In winter, they 
resort to the berries of the sumach, holly, dogwood, and shriv¬ 
elled wild grapes. 
In a state of confinement, these birds may be reared in the 
same manner, and on the same kind of food as their congener, 
the mocking bird. In the autumn, of the first season, the 
young begin their musical studies, “ repeating passages with 
as much zeal as ever did Paganini.” By the following spring, 
their lessons are complete and the full powers of their song 
developed. 
Like the American robin, the brown thrush suffers much in 
moulting, and often nearly loses all his feathers at once. 
