136. The SONG THRUSH, or THROSTLE (Turdus musicus), is a bird known by its almost straight bill, notched near the end of the upper mandible; and its quill feathers being rust-coloured at their inner base.
This bird inhabits woods of all the temperate parts of Europe.
Although the singing birds may not, on account of their melodious notes alone, be considered of any absolute use to mankind, yet these afford us so much delight, and convey to our minds so many pleasing and cheerful emotions, that they must not be overlooked even by such persons as are in search of the useful productions of nature.
For fulness and clearness of tone, the throstle is excelled by none of the British song-birds; and in plaintiveness, compass, and execution, it is much superior to the blackbird. Its notes are heard in woods and thickets during nearly nine months of the year, but are much too powerful to be pleasant when kept in a room. Some of the inhabitants of Poland catch thrushes in such numbers as even to load small vessels with them for exportation to other countries.
During long droughts in the summer-time these birds are of great service by hunting out shell-snails, which they eagerly pull in pieces as food for their offspring.
They build their nests in thickets or orchards, and sometimes in thick hedges near the ground. The outside consists of moss interwoven with dried grass or hay, and the inside is curiously and smoothly plastered. The female generally lays five or six eggs of deep blue colour, marked with black spots.
137. The FIELDFARE (Turdus pilaris) is a bird of the thrush tribe, distinguished by the tail feathers being black, except the outermost, which, at their inner edge, are tipped with white; and by the head and upper part of the body near the tail being of a hoary colour.
These birds annually visit England at the beginning of winter, arriving in large flocks from, the northern parts of Europe. They are also found in Syria and Siberia.
By the ancients, fieldfares, with some other species of thrush, were in great esteem as food. The Roman epicures, as we are informed by Varro, had them fattened with crumbs of bread mixed with minced figs; and the people employed for this purpose kept thousands of them in successive states of preparation for the table. With us they are sometimes eaten, but they are by no means esteemed as a luxury.
Fieldfares do not breed in this country. They generally leave us about the end of February or the beginning of March, and do not return till the commencement of winter.