BRITISH BIRDS 



THE MISTLE-THRUSH. 



TuRDUs viscivoRUS, Linnasus. 



Owing perhaps to the increase of plantations during the present 

 century, the Mistle-Thrush, the largest resident species of the genus, 

 has extended its breeding-range northward to Caithness, Suther- 

 land and West Ross, as well as to some of the Hebrides ; but to 

 the Orkneys it is chiefly a wanderer, very rarely breeding, and has 

 seldom been recorded from the Shetlands. Until about the year 

 1800 it was unknown in Ireland, where it is now sedentary and 

 increasing ; while in England and Wales it is of general distri- 

 bution, though commoner in the wooded districts. Emigration 

 takes place from the colder portions of our islands in autumn and 

 winter, when, on the other hand, large flocks arrive froni the 

 Continent. 



This species breeds from Bod5 in Norway southward, throughout 

 suitable portions of temperate Europe to the extremity of the 



B 



