[Illustration]
Turdus pilaris, LINNÆUS; La Litorne, ou La Tourdelle, BUFFON;
Die Wachholderdrossel, BECHSTEIN.
This bird is in size between the two preceding, its length being ten
inches, of which the tail occupies four. The beak is an inch long,
blackish at the point, otherwise yellow, as well as the opening of the
throat and the tongue. The iris is dark brown. The shanks, an inch and a
quarter high, are deep brown; the top of the head and neck, the cheeks,
the bottom of the back, and the rump, are ash gray, with some blackish
spots at the top of the head; a white line passes above the eyes; the
back is rust brown; the throat and half the breast are rusty yellow,
strewed with black heart-shaped spots; the rest of the under part of the
body is white, with blackish heart-shaped spots on the sides, and longer
ones towards the vent and tail.
In the female the upper part of the beak is browner, the head and rump
of a paler gray, the throat whitish, the back dingy rust colour, and the
feet deep brown.
Of this species there are many varieties, the white, the spotted, the
white headed, and the like.
HABITATION.--When wild this species spreads not only all over Europe,
but also over Syria and Siberia. In the summer it remains in the
northern regions, where it builds in pine forests. It arrives in
Germany and England in prodigious flights in November, and passes the
winter in places producing the juniper; its return northward takes
place in the first fine days of spring.
In confinement it is treated like the missel thrush, but it is
generally only kept as a decoy bird. Heat being injurious, it is kept
as far as possible from the stove.
FOOD.--When wild it feeds like the two preceding species.
In confinement it is fed in the same way; raw carrots grated with
bread is added, which the others like also.
MODE OF TAKING.--The same as in the two preceding species.
ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--Its song is a mere harsh disagreeable warble. I
should not have introduced it among cage birds if the lovers of
bird-catching did not in winter require its call when pursuing its
species.