THRUSHES 129 



seemed much confused bv, but by no means 

 inclined to resent, the onslaught. 



One curious fact in the history of this bird is that 

 it was once extremely rare in certain localities, where 

 it has since become quite common. Thompson 

 states that in Ireland it was practically unknown 

 before the vear 1800, whilst now it has become a 

 regular resident species. As recently as 1830 it is 

 said to have been a most unusual occurrence to find 

 it nesting north of the Tweed. Now its breeding 

 range extends to Ross, Sutherland and Caithness. 



The Song Thrush shares with the Blackbird the 

 distinction of being not only the most melodious, 

 but the largest of the British avian musicians; for 

 the Mistle Thrush's wild notes hardly entitle him to 

 a place in the highest class. In the matter of limit- 

 ing vocal skill to the smaller races of birds, Nature 

 has doubtlessly acted with a wise discretion. If, 

 for example, a member of the Crow family had a 

 Skylark's voice increased proportionately with the 

 Crow's size, the result might be overwhelming. In 

 the larger fowl, too, musical power would probably 

 involve danger to its owner, and it may well be that 

 on this account alone, the process of natural selec- 

 tion has restricted song to the birds which can easily 

 evade attention. 



In its choice of a nesting site the Song Thrush 

 exercises a varied taste. The fork of a low tree, the 

 centre of a hedge or isolated thorn-bush, or the 

 upper branches of a tall-growing rhododendron or 

 laurel, are places usually selected. But the nest is 

 also frequently found in a broken wall or bank, or 

 9 



