The SONG THRUSH (_Turdus musicus_) is considerably smaller than the
Missel Thrush, its length being eight inches and a half, and its breadth
twelve and three-quarters; its wing measures four inches and one-sixth,
and its tail three inches and a quarter. The upper portion of the body is
olive-grey, the under side yellowish white, marked with triangular oval
brown spots, which are less numerous on the belly than in the species
above described; the lower wing-covers are also palish yellow, instead
of white, and the feathers on the upper covers tipped with dirty reddish
yellow. The sexes differ only in their size; the young are recognisable
by the yellowish streaks and brown spots on the tips of the feathers
of the upper part of their body. Like the Missel Thrush, this species
inhabits the whole of Europe, being, however, especially numerous in its
extreme north, and rarely breeding in the most southern portions of the
continent, which are usually only visited during the winter months; it
is also frequently met with in China, and during its migrations wanders
as far as North-western Africa, but is rarely seen in the north-eastern
provinces of that continent. Notwithstanding the very quarrelsome
disposition usually displayed by these birds, many interesting anecdotes
have been recorded concerning the great affection they display towards
each other. Amongst these Yarrell mentions a touching instance, related
by Mr. Knapp:--"We observed," says the latter, "two common Thrushes
frequenting the shrubs on the green in our garden; from the slenderness
of their forms and the freshness of their plumage, we pronounced them to
be birds of the preceding summer. There was an association of friendship
between them that called attention to their actions. One of them seemed
ailing or feeble from some bodily accident, for, though it hopped about,
it appeared unable to obtain a sufficiency of food. Its companion, an
active, sprightly Thrush, would frequently bring it worms or bruised
snails, when they mutually partook of the banquet; the ailing bird would
then wait patiently, understand the actions, and expect the assistance of
the other, and advance from his asylum on its approach. This procedure
was continued for some days, but after a time we missed the fostered
invalid, which probably died, or, by reason of its weakness, met with
some fatal accident." (The egg of the Song Thrush is shown in Fig. 14,
Coloured Plate XVI.)