114 OUR FAVOURITE SONG BIRDS 



the non-breeding season ; but whilst eng-aged in 

 duties of reproduction it not only frequents lower 

 situations but its habits are considerably changed 

 in other ways. Its actions on the ground when 

 feeding are very similar to those of other Thrushes. 

 It hops restlessly about in quest of food, has the 

 same halting startled sort of way with it, is easily 

 alarmed, and when flushed flies rapidly and generally 

 for some distance ere alighting again. After the 

 breeding season, in the late summer and early 

 autumn, it collects into flocks of varying size, but 

 these usually disband again long before the winter 

 is over. 



The Mistle-Thrush is a sweet and powerful 

 singer, but one very remarkable fact concerning 

 his song is the time of year it is chiefly indulged in. 

 Unlike all the other British Thrushes the present 

 species becomes practically mute when other birds 

 are overflowing with music. His song is confined 

 to the late autumn and winter months, beginning in 

 September and ceasing in March. This peculiar 

 habit has led to the bird being called " Storm-cock " 

 in many country places. We may safely attribute 

 this peculiarity in the Mistle-Thrush to the birds 

 pairing during this period. The song, though some- 

 what short and lacking much variation, is singularly 

 loud, wild, and beautiful, the component notes being 

 both clear and sweet. It is rather monotonously 

 uttered time after time ; but the bird is most per- 



