THE IMISTLE-THRUSH 



TURDUS VISCIVORUS 



Generic affinity must be our sole reason for 

 placing the Mistle-Thrush next in order of our 

 favourite songsters, and not musical ability. This 

 Thrush is another widely-distributed species in the 

 British Islands, perhaps most abundant in the 

 northern half of England. It certainly breeds as 

 far north as the Orkneys, as well as on many of the 

 Hebrides, and although said to be unknown in 

 Ireland a century ago is now widely dispersed 

 there. This Thrush is another species which has 

 extended its area within recent time, following the 

 planting of trees in any direction which may be 

 compatible with the laws of avine dispersal. Its 

 extra British distribution is a wide one, comprising 

 most parts of temperate Europe, and in the extreme 

 west ranging as high as the Arctic Circle. In Asia, 

 subject to slight modifications of size and colour, 

 the bird ranges at least as far as Lake Baikal and 

 the Xorth-west Himalayas. To the south of Europe 



