THRUSH.
ba found half-slarvcd. moping, with leathers pulled out like n ball, under hanks and hedges, while Blackbirds,
I'cdwings, and others of the family are able to retain their ordinary condition. When suffering from
exposure during heavy snow, I have often noticed Thrushes hopping about in search of food with one leg
drawn up and snugly concealed in their plumage for waruith, a change from one fool to the other being
occasionally effected. Wherever I take up my quarters a copious supply of scraps is always provided for the
swarms of pensioners that gather round the bouse in severe winters: hundreds may occasionally be seen
awaiting and eventuutly quarrelling over their long-expected dole. On the 21st of January 1S81, the terrific
hurricanes and snow-drifts which had prevailed for several successive days greatly exhausted the whole of the
smaller land-birds on the south coast, and, in the neighbourhood of Brighton, Blackbird! and Thrushes were
utterly unable to stand: without the slightest power in their legs, the uufortunale birds Battered slowly
with drooping wings to the food, ond falling on their breasts fought ravenously over every morsel. Thousands
of many species were found dead for several weeks as the snow slowly melted and revealed the sheltered corners
into which they had Crawled to die.
Thrushes were staled by the men who looked after the Sea-fowl on the rock to breed on the Bass. Tilts
may have been (he case; but I never detected a nest occupied or even the old remains. Blackbirds were at
times plentiful, breeding about the old buildings, and this may have led to the mistake. Numbers of Thrushes,
however, were attracted to the lower parts of the rock by the quantities of snails collected in the cracks and
crannies of the old masonry: heaps of broken shells might be found here and there among the fortifications
round some of tile larger stones, to which they bad been carried in order to be broken.
The neatly built nest or the Thrush is placed in a variety or situations, at one time high in the branches
of a lofty tree, at another among the ivy and other creeping plants on some overhanging bank, or even on
(he ground itself. The limbs or trained fruit-trees, furze-hushes, faggot-stacks, piles of old rubbish, ruiued
buildings, disused saw-pits, and, indeed, almost any site in which the cradle could possibly he fixed, are at times
resorted to. On the 28th of March, 19S2, while passing within a few yards of a Thrush's nest placed in an
evergreen oak in n garden near Brighton, on which the female was covering a brood of half-Hedged young,
the male arrived and, alighting on the side of the nest, thrust his bill below his mate wilh an upward
movement of the bead which forced her immediately to withdraw to the side; the male then fed the young
and took his departure, the female at once resuming her former position. The reminder that the old gentleman
bestowed on his spouse to induce her to vacate the nest appeared to be administered with somewhat
unnecessary violence.
To note down accurately the food of this useful bird is almost impossible. Snails, flies, spiders, and
many insects that are injurious to the gardener aro liberally consumed. A few minutes' observation of the
actions of a Thrush while hunting for a breakfast on a lawn in the early morning will speedily give a notion
of the number of worms devoured. The berries of privet, hawthorn, and barberry (Hn-beria DanritiH) are
also swallowed, and the fruit having been separated from the stones the latter are east up. On July 22nd,
l"-"-2, 1 noticed a Thrush repeatedly settling on a barberry-bush, and rapidly bolting ten or a dozen berries,
with which it Hew off at once to supply its young. There is no denying tho fact that mauy fruits, if
unprotected, may suffer from their attacks; but tho me ins of keeping them at a distance are now so well
known that little damage need be feared during the short season the trees cau sulfcr from their depredations.
When starving iu severe weather scraps consisting nf raw meat, bones, bread, and vegetables are eagerly
accepted.
The note of the Thrush, too familiar to need description, may bo beard ut all times of the year. Under
heading of January 1st, 1883,1 find an entry in my journal ;—" Wind south-west, fog and light rain ; Thrushes
sinning before daylight and at dusk."
When undisturbed several broods are hatched iu a season. Should the weather be mild young may be
THRUSH,
seen by the middle of March; and on August Oth, 188;i, I came across a nest near Brighton in which the egg*
were just on the point of hatching.
Young birds brought out early in the season may not unfrequently be observed supplying food to
juveniles younger and more helpless than themselves, Thrushes are seldom quarrelsome unless pressed by
wont; and more than once I have seen them show a disposition to put a stop to tin- pugnacious habits of
their smaller feathered companions. On oue occasion late in April, while watching a furious battle between
a couple of Sparrows on a lawn, a Thrush, who was quietly searching for worms at a short distance, happened
to become aware of the dispute : regarding the combatants intently for a moment, In' pulled out Ids feathers
and went at them full tilt, knocking both out of time and effectually putting a stop to the light.
To the casual observer there is little difference between the male and female. The markings on the breast
of the male, however, are somewhat brighter aud more distinct, while the bird is also slightly larger.