THE MISTLE-TIIRUSH 113 



and North Africa the bird is best known as a winter 

 migrant, as it also is in South Persia, but some 

 individuals appear to ascend the mountains to breed 

 on the northern shores of the Mediterranean. To 

 a great extent the distribution of this species is 

 controlled by the presence of wooded country. 



The Mistle-Thrush is not only our largest but 

 our wariest songster. It is a resident in the British 

 Islands, but subject to a certain amount of local 

 migration, especially in the northern and more ex- 

 posed localities. Flocks of this Thrush also visit 

 our islands in autumn from continental districts. 

 Next to the Ring Ouzel, the Mistle-Thrush is the 

 least familiar of our native Thrushes, showing a 

 marked preference, especially in summer, for wild 

 uplands and the more remote areas. It is also the 

 most gregarious, in this respect resembling the 

 non-indigenous Redwing and Fieldfare. The haunts 

 of this Thrush are chiefly confined to wooded 

 districts, in which, during the non-breeding season, 

 it is generally wandering about. For the greater 

 part of the season it is a somewhat solitary bird, 

 but in autumn there is a strongly-marked tendency 

 to gregariousness displayed. Save when feeding 

 this handsome Thrush is not seen much upon the 

 ground ; neither does It frequent underwood or ever- 

 greens. When flushed it usually hurries off at a 

 considerable height or takes refuge in the taller 

 trees. These remarks more particularly relate to 



