THRUSH, in ornithology, the name for any of the Turdidce. They are uni versally distributed except in New Zea land, 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 estab lish themselves on a number of remote islands. They differ widely in their habits and in their habitat; some are gregarious, others live solitarily or in pairs. The wood thrush (Turdus mus telintes) is abundant in North America in summer, as far N. as Hudson Bay, retiring to tropical and sub-tropical re gions 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 has several European species, but to only three of these is the name thrush ap plied. The song thrush, throstle, or mavis (Turdus musious), the missel thrush (T. viscivorus), and white thrush (T. va
rius). The song thrush, common, 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 N. parts in winter, being thus practically a bird of passage. It feeds on insects, worms, slugs, snails, and in the summer greedily devours cher ries and smaller fruit. It usually builds a cup-shaped nest in a thick bush or shrub, and lines the interior with mud, clay, or dung. The eggs are four to six in number, bright bluish-green, with brownish spots. They usually produce two broods in the season.