The Intelligence of the Thrush

Abstract

IT is, I think, well to record the following observations of the intelligence of the thrush. The first happened on June 28, 1865. I then saw, from the windows that look out on the little lawn north of my house, a thrush steadily “stepping westward” in front of the hedge that parts the lawn from the public road. The bird seemed to be intentionally making for a gravel path that, after passing almost close to the windows, bends to the north-west, toward the small gate of my front garden. It was bearing something in its bill. On coming to the path it attempted to break this on a stone. It did not succeed. It then tried another stone. This time it succeeded. Thereupon it flew away. On the spot I found a remarkably big stone embedded in the path, and round it were scattered bits of snail shell. The bird had eaten the snail.