Head oblong, of ordinary size; neck rather short, but somewhat slender. Feet longish, rather strong; tarsus compressed, anteriorly covered with seven large scutella, sharp-edged behind; toes of moderate length, slender, the hind toe stout, the lateral nearly equal, the anterior united for a short space at the base. Claws slender, arched, compressed, acute.
Plumage soft and blended. Wings of moderate length, rounded, the first quill short, the third and fourth longest, the second and fifth equal, and about a quarter of an inch shorter than the fourth. Tail long, rounded, of twelve rather narrow rounded feathers.
Bill dark-brown, the base of the lower mandible paler. Feet yellowish-brown, claws dusky. The general colour of the upper parts is greyish-brown, the tips of the secondary coverts, the edges of the primary quills, and a large spot at the end of the three lateral tail-feathers, white; the lower parts whitish, marked with triangular dusky spots, of which there is a distinct line from the base of the bill; the throat, the middle of the breast, the abdomen, and lower tail-coverts unspotted.
Length to end of tail 8 inches, to end of wings 5 3/4; wing from flexure 3 9/12; tail 3 1/2; bill along the ridge 7 1/2/12; tarsus 1 2/12; hind toe 4/12, its claw 4/12; middle toe 8/12, its claw 3 1/4/12.
VARIED THRUSH.
Turdus nævius, Gmel.
PLATE CCCLXIX. Adult Male.
Of this beautiful Thrush, of which a figure not having the black band running quite across the breast, as is the case in the adult male, is given by Mr Swainson, in the Fauna Boreali-Americana, Dr Richardson speaks as follows:—“This species was discovered at Nootka Sound, in Captain COOK’S third voyage, and male and female specimens, in the possession of Sir Joseph Banks, were described by Latham: Pennant has also described and figured the same male. The specimen represented in this work was procured at Fort Franklin, lat. 65 1/4°, in the spring of 1826. We did not hear its song, nor acquire any information respecting its habits, except that it built its nest in a bush, similar to that of the Merula migratoria. It was not seen by us on the banks of the Saskatchewan; and, as it has not appeared in the list of the Birds of the United States, it most probably does not go far to the eastward of the Rocky Mountains in its migrations north and south. It may perhaps be more common to the westward of that ridge.”
Dr Richardson’s conjecture as to the line of march followed by it has proved to be correct, Dr Townsend and Mr Nuttall having found it abundant on the western sides of the Rocky Mountains. The former of these zealous naturalists informs me that he “first found this Thrush on the Columbia River in the month of October, and that it becomes more numerous in winter, which it spends in that region, though some remove farther south. It there associates with the Common Robin, Turdus migratorius, but possesses a very different note, it being louder, sharper, and quicker than those of the latter, and in the spring, before it sets out for its yet unascertained breeding-place, it warbles very sweetly. It is called Ammeskuk by the Chinooks.”
Mr Nuttall’s notice respecting it is as follows:—“Of this bird, whose manners so entirely resemble those of the Common Robin, we know almost nothing. They probably breed as far north as Nootka, where they were first seen by the naturalists of Cook’s expedition. On the Columbia they are only winter birds of passage, arriving about October, and continuing more or less frequently throughout the winter. At this time they flit through the forest in small flocks, frequenting usually low trees, on which they perch in perfect silence, and are at times very timorous and difficult of approach, having all the shy sagacity of the Robin, and appearing at all times in a very desultory manner.”
The numerous specimens of this Thrush in my possession have enabled me to compare it with Turdus migratorius, and another new Thrush from Chili. On examining the tail, from the shape of which Mr Swainson considers this species allied to our Mocking Bird, I found its form, length, and extent beyond the wings, to correspond almost exactly with those of the tail of our Robin; and, if it proves true that the Varied Thrush forms a nest bedded with mud, it will strengthen my opinion that both these and the Chilian species are as nearly allied as possible, and therefore ought to be considered as true Thrushes, of which, to assume the language of systematic writers, Turdus migratorius is the type in America, whilst Turdus Merula is that of Europe.