TURDIN^. 



THE SONG-THRUSH. 



TuRDUS Musicus, Linn?£us. 



The Song-Thrush — known in the North as the Throstle or the 

 Mavis — is generally distributed throughout the British Islands, 

 being equally at home in summer in the cultivated regions of the 

 south, or amongst the storm-swept, surf-lashed rocks of the Outer 

 Hebrides (where the birds are small and dark, like the Hebridean 

 Lepidopterd). In the Shetlands, however, it is of rare occurrence, 

 and has seldom been known to nest. Especially in the north, a 

 migratory movement takes place among our native birds in autumn, 

 when considerable numbers visit us from the Continent. 



Northward the Song-Thrush has wandered to the desolate island 

 of Jan Mayen (between Iceland and Spitsbergen, about 70° N. lat.). 

 From Norway it breeds (chiefly in the forest region) across Europe 

 and Asia to Lake Baikal ; sparingly and at increasing elevations in the 

 south of Europe, down to the Pyrenean chain, the north of Italy, 

 and the Caucasus ; while in winter it visits Madeira, the Canaries, 

 Northern Africa, Nubia, Asia Minor, and Persia. 



The Song-Thrush is an early breeder, and young birds may some- 

 times be found by the end of March. The well-known nest, with 

 its smooth water-tight lining of rotten wood and dung, is generally 



1! 2 



