P A S S ERE S. TURDIDAi.
T u r d u s m u s ic u s , Linnaeus*.
THE SONG-THRUSH.
Turdus musicus.
T h e S o n g - T h r u s h , Throstle or Mavis, is a well-known
and general favourite, chiefly from an opinion that it is the
best of our larger singing-birds, possessing to a greater
extent than others a combination of the three requisites—
power, quality of tone, and variety. Its song is also continued
through a large portion of the year, beginning with
the first mild weather, lasting until the commencement of
the moult, and being often resumed in autumn. In addition
to this great recommendation to favour, the bird is, except
for a few weeks, not only inoffensive in habit, hut most beneficial
to the horticulturist, elegant in shape, sprightly in
action, and engaging by its confidence. I t is not, as we find
it in this country, so gregarious as some other species of
the genus, but is widely distributed throughout the British
* Syst. Rat. Ed. 12, i. p. 292 (1766).
Islands, even in places of the most diverse kind, from the
storm-swept cliffs of St. Kilda to the smiling meadows,
woods and gardens of southern England. I t feeds on snails
(the shells of which it breaks dexterously against a stone, as,
in the Hebrides,.it also does those of the whelk), insects,
worms and, according to season, on fruit and various berries.
In the vine-countries of Europe, it feasts luxuriously during
autumn on ripe grapes; and in many parts of the continent
is in great request for the table at that time, from the
excellent condition and flavour which abundance of this food
imparts to its flesh. Prudent gardeners, who surround their
fruit with nets, have nothing to fear from the Song-Thrush,
and much for which to be thankful to it.
White of Selborne considered it a rule, that whenever
there was incubation, there was music; and the early spring-
song of this Thrush truly indicates the early breeder. The
nest is begun in March, and is frequently placed in the
middle of a thick and tall bush or shrub, sometimes in a
holly or fir, while occasionally this bird has been known to
build in an outhouse, and even, though rarely, on the ground.
The nest is formed externally of sticks, roots and moss,
generally mixed with some lumps of clay; the inside is
smooth and compact, being lined with a thin coating of
rotten wood, and, as is said, sometimes of cow-dung, so
prepared with saliva, so equally spread and cemented, as to be,
for a time, watertight; and such a quantity of rain-water
has been found in an exposed Song-Thrush’s nest, as to
induce the belief that the nest had been deserted as untenable.
The eggs are from four to six in number, of
a beautiful shining, light, or sometimes deep, greenisli-hlue,
with black spots, blotches or streaks, chiefly at the larger
end—but sometimes without markings; while, rarely but
occasionally, the markings are of a dark red, and nests have
been known with the eggs of a pure -white ground-colour and
a few rusty spots. The eggs usually measure from T14 to
•96 by from -81 to -74 in., but an exceptionally large egg
will measure 1'92 by ‘92, and an exceptionally small one -69
by -58 in. In its style of nest-building and the normal colour-
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