thrush (1), thrusch

[Mid. Eng. thrusch, from A. S. thrysce; cogn. with O. H. Ger. drosca, whence Ger. dro el. These answer to a Teut. type, thraska. The Lith. strazdas, strazda show that an initial s has been lost. The original form appears to have been star - da. The original sense was prob. chirper, or twitterer; cf. Gr. s., trizein, trizein =to twitter; Lat. strix the screech-owl.] Ornith.: The book-name for any of the Turdidæ (q. v.). They are universally distributed except in New Zealand, and are very highly organized birds, and it is for this reason, perhaps, as well as on account of their omnivorous diet, that they have been able to establish themselves on a number of remote islands. They differ widely in their habits and in their habitats; some are gregarious, others live solitarily or in pairs. The Wood Thrush ( Tur dus mus tel in us ) is abundant in North America in summer, as far north as Hudson's Bay, retiring to tropical and sub-tropical regions in winter. It is rather smaller than the Song Thrush, and very similar to it. Several other species are found in North America. The type-genus Turdus (q. v.) has several European species, but to only three of these is the name Thrush applied. The Song Thrush, Throstle, or Mavis ( Turdus music us ), the Mi el Thrush ( T. viscivorus ), and White's Thrush (q. v.) (T. varius). The Song Thrush, generally spoken of without any qualifying adjective, is not quite nine inches long; back and upper surface brown of slightly different shades, chin white, abdomen and tail coverts grayish-white; throat, breast, and flanks, together with the sides of the neck. yel. low, thickly spotted with dark-brown. It is one of the best-known European song birds, and in captivity is easily taught simple airs. It is found all over Europe, but leaves some of the northern parts in winter, being thus practically a bird of pa age. It feeds on insects, worms, slugs, snails, and in the summer greedily devours cherries and smaller fruit. It usually builds in the center of a thick bush or shrub, but sometimes in an open shed, and lines the interior of the nest with mud, clay, or dung, so as to form a cup. The eggs are four to six in number, bright bluish-green, with brownish spots. The male takes part in the work of incubation, and is very attentive in feeding his mate while she is sitting. They usually produce two broods in the season. [MISSEL-THRUSH.]