The west shore., March 01, 1889, Page 117, Image 3

THE WE8T 8H0RE.
117
feathers crowns the head, coal black in the males and
a deep, reddish brown in the females, the general col.
or being gray, dark above and light below. It has a
touch of the mocking bird in its nature, and often
mars the beauty of its own song by introducing the
less harmonious notes of other singers. It is retiring
in its habits, and will seldom sing unless concealed
from observation.
The gray thrush, or song thrush, as it is usually
called both in English and German (singdromd), is
scientifically known as the iurdus musicus, L, and is
one of the most charming of feathered songsters. Its
voice is rich and mellow, and his song, long sustained,
is remarkable for the purity of its tone and the vari
ety of its notes. It sings from early in the spring
until late in the fall, and will, probably, become tho
best known of all these strangers from acroBs the
sea. It has some of the powers of the mocking bird,
and can not only imitate the song, but tho manner
isms as well, of other birds, such as tho robin, and
in captivity has been taught to imitate tho notes of
the flute to such an extent as to render the " liluo
Bells of Scotland " perfectly. In color it is strongly
marked and will be easily recognized. Tho upper
surface is of varying shades of brown, the chin quito
white, the abdomen gray white, and the throat, breast,
flanks and sides of the neck yellow, thickly studded
with dark brown spots. In size it is about nino
inches long. The black thrush, or schwarzdrosscl
(t urdus mcrula, L.) is intensely blue-black, almost
uniform throughout, with a very bright yellow beak.
In general appearance it much resembles tho black
bird of America, which is also, as well as the robin,
a member of the thrush family, and will bo easily
distinguished from its less sable hued companions.
Its song is full, mellow and musical, occasionally bo
ing heard at night in rivalry with tho nightingale. It
is something of a mimic of other birds in its native
state, and in captivity has been taught to whiatlo
tunes with much force and accuracy. It is solitary
in its habits, and does not congregate in great ilxks,
as do the common blackbirds of America.
Another member of the thrush family is tho ring
ouzel, or ringdrosscl (lurdu torquatu, L), though
as a song bird it is far inferior to tho others. IU
name was bestowed becauRO of tho broad band of
white on the throat, the rest of the plumago being of
a very dark brown, bordering on black. In sizo it is
about eleven inches long.
Of finches there are fire varieties, the chaffinch,
goldfinch, bullfinch, greenfinch and the linnet, and al
though they are very pretty and intelligent birds they
are not such charming singers as tho thrushes. Tho
chaffinch Jringilla cjcUb, L), if called Mjlnk by
the German. It U a field bird, and often cuLgre-
gates in great flocks about tho hedges. Its noto is t
merry kind of whistle and its call noto is very music
al, sounding something like " pinck,M which is com.
mon name for tho bird. In coloring it is very pretty
and will bo easily recognized. At tho baso of its
short bill tho feathers arc jet black,- as also are tho
wings. The top of tho heat! and back of the neck aro
slato gray, tho back is chestnut, and tho sides of tho
bead, tho chin, throat and breaat aro a ruddy chest,
nut Tho wing feathers aro lipped with white, and
tho tail is mixed black ami white feathers, Tho gold
finch, or ttwylitz (fringilh ctirdurlis, L) is also a
beautifully-colored bird. A crimson band at tho base
of tho beak, a black streak from tho top of tho head
to tho shoulders and on wings and tail, white oo tho
sides of tho face, back of tho neck and tips of wing
and tail, and a gray-brown on back, breast, throat and
abdomen aro its chief colorings, Tho goldfinch is a
favorite bird with fanciers, and is ono of tho most in.
telligent and easily domesticated of all wild birds. It
is easily instructed in tricks and has boon taught to
do most wonderful things in captivity. Tho siskin,
or alwrdcvine, also called greenfinch, though not tho
bird regularly known by that name, is called tMj
by tho Germans, and is classified us frimjilii imui
L, It has a peculiarly sweet voic though not as ac.
complishM a singer as somo of its companions. It
tires in (locks of eight or ten, aud is very activo in its
habits, flitting constantly from placo to placo and uU
tering its sweet call notes frequently. Its general
color is an olivo gren, though tho top of tho head is
black, and a sulphur yellow is found behind tho ear
and on tho neck and breast and edges of tho wings
and tail. Tho lionet (ri'ngMi yirifijiniv L) callod
by tho Germans h'lnjtitvj, is known lth as tho browa
linnet and the rMflnch, tho latter l"cauo of tho ver
miliou-tipid feathers of its crown. Tho faco and
back of tho neck aro gray-brown, tho back a warm
chestnut, tho wings black tippd with white, tho chin
and throat gray, tho breast bright red dapplM slight
ly with brown, tho abdotoen gray. brown and tho tail
black edg'xl with white.
Ono of tho finest siegers and most easily dometll.
cated is tho bullfinch (jiyrrhuli Huromt, or ruhi.
cilt'i), known to tho Germans u or dinnjftijf.
It is very retiring and shy in its habiu, but when do
mesticated exhibits marked auction for tbo who
caro for it In its wild state it U not a singer of
much eonaequenc, bat its imitative qualities are so
good and its voico n fteiiblo that it can U taught to
sing tune, iU tne rermbling l4 of tho clario
net. For this purpo tho birds aro caught white
youcg, and aro carefully instructed, a fUgeotet Uicg
tie tooat satisfactory instrument to us. It Is very
imjrUtt thai they U kept away from otlsr bird,