28 THE BIRDS OF COOKHAM AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. 
All these Thrushes are very closely allied, and seem to consti- 
tute a distinct section of the Palearctic species of the genus 
Turdus. This idea is also borne out by Dr. Sclater, in his ex- 
cellent paper on the ‘ Geographical Distribution of the genus 
Turdus.”** Moreover they exhibit close relations inter se, when 
every point of their economy is taken into consideration. To 
begin with, their style of nidification is similar. Then again 
their osteology somewhat confirms the arrangement proposed, 
although I cannot altogether agree with every conclusion arrived 
at by Mr. R. I’. Tomes ;} for instance, his separation of Turdus 
torquatus so far from Z. merula, and again in the splitting 
off of Z. musicus into a separate section from Z. ¢liacus, an 
arrangement which, after Professor Newton’s remarks, he would 
doubtless be willing to modify. We might have expected, 
however, that Z. visc’vorus would be found to present slight 
modifications in osteological characters, when compared with 
T. iliacus or T. musicus, as its habits present us with certain 
differences, added to which its egg, though somewhat allied 
to that of the latter bird, also differs. But the affinity between 
the two smaller birds will strike every one at first sight, and, 
according to Mr, Tomes, their osteology is also very similar. He 
has separated 7. musicus under another division, solely on account 
of its supposed non-migratory habits, a fact which is now pretty 
satisfactorily disproved. But in its generally darker style of 
plumage, its general habits, and in the colour of the egg, the 
Redwing shows some slight affinity to the Fieldfare, next to 
which it is placed by Mr. Tomes; and again, though in this case 
very much further removed, the Fieldfare shows a slight affinity 
to the Blackbird. 
The relationship between the two British species of Merula is 
again very close in some points of their economy, while in others 
they differ considerably. 
Sub-fam. SAXicoLinz. 
Saxicola. . 
36. Saxicola cenanthe. The Wheatear. 
The Wheatear generally makes its appearance early in 
+* Ibis, 1861, p. 227. + Ibis, 1856, p. 379. 
