The BUSH WARBLER (_Thamnolæa albiscapulata_), an inhabitant of the
Abyssinian mountains, possesses a short, decidedly curved beak, slightly
pointed wings, in which the fourth quill exceeds the rest in length,
a comparatively long and rounded tail, and short feet; its length is
eight inches, and its breadth one foot and three-quarters of an inch.
The wing measures four inches and one-third, and the tail three inches
and three-quarters. The plumage of the male is of a blueish black upon
the head, throat, and upper part of the breast, back, wings, tail, and
legs; the belly and lower breast are bright rust-red; a band that divides
the upper and lower parts of the breast, and the feathers on the small
wing-covers are snow-white; the tail-feathers are rust-red on both sides,
and tipped with black. The females and young are without the white
patches on the breast and wings.
[Illustration: THE BUSH WARBLER (_Thamnolæa albiscapulata_).]
We had many opportunities of observing these birds at Habesch, and
saw them constantly in the neighbouring mountains. They lived almost
invariably in pairs, and frequented rocks, stones, trees, or the surface
of the ground, with equal impartiality. Upon the rocks they conduct
themselves after the manner of the Stone Thrush: whilst sporting upon the
trees, they hang from the trunk, as they search the bark for grubs, or
perch on the very topmost bough, and pour forth their clear and joyous
song. We were unable to make any observations respecting their breeding
and nidification.
* * * * *
The THRUSHES (_Turdi_) constitute a very numerous family, whose various
members are spread over the whole surface of our globe. These birds
closely resemble each other in form and habits, although they differ
considerably in size; for whilst some have the dimensions of a Pigeon,
the smaller species are no larger than the Warblers we have just
described. All have more or less slenderly-formed bodies; the beak is
almost straight, and of moderate length, slightly curved along the culmen
of the upper mandible, and incised at its tip; the tarsus is slender,
and, like the toes, of medium size; the claws, on the contrary, are
large. The wings, in which the third and fourth quills exceed the rest in
length, are long and pointed; the tail is generally moderately long, and
either quite straight, or slightly rounded at its extremity. The plumage
is soft, somewhat lax, and very various in its coloration; the sexes are
usually similar in appearance, and the young are adorned with spots.
Our space forbids our entering into a particular account of all the
European Thrushes, and we can therefore only describe a few of those most
commonly known. Of the eighty-one species with which we are acquainted,
two inhabit the northern tracts of our globe, whilst fifteen are met
with in India and the adjacent countries. There are nine in Africa,
five in Australia, and twenty-seven in South America. Of these, the
RED-WINGED THRUSH (_Turdus fuscatus_), the RED-THROATED THRUSH (_Turdus
ruficollis_), the PALE THRUSH (_Turdus pallens_), the SIBERIAN THRUSH
(_Turdus Sibericus_), the WANDERING THRUSH (_Turdus migratorius_), the
HERMIT THRUSH (_Turdus solitarius_), WILSON'S THRUSH (_Turdus Wilsoni_)
SWAINSON'S THRUSH (_Turdus Swainsoni_), DWARF THRUSH (_Turdus minor_),
the SOFT-FEATHERED THRUSH (_Turdus mollissimus_), the BLACK-THROATED
THRUSH (_Turdus atrogularis_), and the GROUND THRUSH (_Turdus varius_)
are all met with in Europe; the four first-mentioned of these thirteen
species come from Siberia, the next in order from North America, the two
last but one from Southern Asia, and the GROUND THRUSH (_Turdus varius_)
from Australia. The members of this family inhabit every variety of
climate, and make their home indifferently within the depths of tropical
forests, or under the shelter of the pines and firs that frequently skirt
the glaciers of mountain ranges, amidst the rich woodland pastures that
adorn highly-cultivated tracts, or upon the sparsely scattered shrubs
that draw their scanty means of existence from the burning sands or
arid soil of vast steppes. Some few species remain during the entire
year within the limits of their native lands, while by far the greater
number exhibit such a propensity for wandering about to see the world as
is almost without a parallel in the whole feathered creation. All are
eminently endowed, and lively and active in their disposition; their
flight is remarkably swift, but varies considerably in the different
species; that of the Song, Red, and Ring Thrushes being the swiftest
and most graceful, whilst that of the Missel and Black Thrushes is
very feeble, owing to the comparative shortness of their pinions. All,
however, are equally adroit in hopping over the surface of the ground,
or climbing amid the trees, and they are all capable of springing with
remarkable facility, aided by their wings, to a distant branch. Their
sight is so keen as to enable them to detect the smallest insect at a
great distance; and their sense of hearing so delicate as to warn them
of the approach of danger long before it has been perceived by the other
inhabitants of their native woods, who at once seek safe shelter when
they hear the warning cry of their more acute and vigilant companions.
To this superior sagacity is no doubt attributable the eager desire
exhibited by Thrushes to investigate any new or striking object: they,
however, take good care to keep at a safe and respectful distance, even
while carrying on their examination with the most eager attention.
Although extremely quarrelsome--we might almost say vicious--in
temperament, the members of this family are eminently social, and
constantly assemble in large parties, comprising not only those of their
own race, but a variety of other birds. Towards man they appear to feel
but little attraction, and are quite acute enough readily to distinguish
friends from enemies. As regards their vocal powers, the different
groups are somewhat unequally endowed, though the notes of all are in
many respects very similar. The song of the "Nightingale of the North,"
as the Singing Thrush is called in Norway, must certainly be regarded
as excelling that of any other species; whilst that of the Missel and
Juniper Thrush are also remarkable for great sweetness and variety of
tone; of the Hermit Thrush (_Turdus solitarius_) Audubon speaks with
great enthusiasm.
Unlike most other birds, the Thrushes do not accompany their notes with
any description of movement or gesticulation, but sit perfectly quiet and
almost motionless during the whole song; one male has no sooner perched
himself on a conspicuous branch, and commenced singing, than he is
answered by all those in the neighbourhood, as they hurry to the spot to
join in the performance, and share the admiration they evidently expect
it will excite. Insects, snails, and worms afford them the means of
sustenance during the summer, these being principally obtained from the
surface of the ground; they also greedily devour berries, some preferring
one sort and some another. Thus the Missel Thrush constantly seeks the
fruit of the mistletoe, and for this reason is popularly supposed to
bear its seeds from one spot to another; while the Ring Thrush consumes
whortleberries in such quantities after the breeding season that,
according to Schauer, its flesh acquires a blue, and its bones a red
tinge. This very decided predilection for particular fruits and berries
renders these birds very troublesome in vineyards and orchards, and
brings down upon them severe retribution at certain seasons of the year.
Such groups as inhabit the north rarely commence breeding before June,
whilst others usually lay within a very short time after their return to
their native lands. The situations of the nest also vary considerably,
according to the localities in which they are built.