Turdus cyaneus, LINNÆUS; Le Merle bleu, BUFFON; Die blau
Drossel, BECHSTEIN.
This bird is rather larger than the common blackbird, its length being
eight inches, three of which belong to the tail. The beak, fourteen
lines in length, is blackish, the iris dark nut brown, the eyelids
yellow; the shanks, thirteen lines in height, are blackish; the whole
plumage is of an ash blue, but each feather has near its tip a
transverse brown line, and the tip itself is whitish. The individual
birds vary in the depth of the blue, according to their age and sex.
The female is generally more uniform in colour than the male.
HABITATION.--When wild the blue thrush is found in the Archipelago, in
Dalmatia, Italy, Spain, and other southern countries, always among
steep rocks.
In confinement it is provided with a convenient cage, like the
preceding.
FOOD.--When wild it feeds on all sorts of insects.
In confinement it is fed like the nightingale.
BREEDING.--Like the rock thrush it builds among rocks, on ruined or
deserted towers, and the like. The young are reared in the same way
as those of the nightingale.
ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--Its pretty plumage and fine voice do not
constitute its only attractions. It is very easily tamed, and is very
capable of instruction, and amuses much by its natural gait and
habits, which very much resemble those of the rock thrush.