WHITE'S THRUSH. 23 



concerning White's Thrush. He writes : — ' At least nine 

 examples of this bird have been before now killed in Britain, 

 They are : — 



1. Christcliurch, Hants, 24th Jauy. 1828. 



2. Bandou, Cork, Dec. 1842. 



3. Welford, Warwickshire, 26th Jany. 1859. 



4. Ballymahon, Longford, 1867. 



5. Hestercombe, Somerset, Jan. 1870. 



6. Langsford, Somerset, 6th Jan. 1871. 



7. Hickling, Norfolk, 10th Oct. 1871. 



8. Castle Eden, Durham, 31st Jan. 1872. 



9. Probis, Cornwall, early in Jan. 1874. 



On comparison with a specimen that has been long mounted, 

 the fresh beauty of the colours in yours is very decidedly 

 marked, yet I fear nothing can be done to preserve its tints, 

 and that, when as many years have elapsed, their richness 

 will have disappeared. I have wholly failed to jSnd any 

 indication that would enable me to determine the age or sex 

 of your bird. There is no question about it being the true 

 T. varius of Pallas, though the tail is wanting, — an unfortu- 

 nate thing, as therein lies one of the most curious characters 

 of this species, one that is possessed, so far as I know, by 

 only one other species of Thrush (T. Horsfiddi) — the presence 

 of fourteen instead of twelve rectrices. The real White's 

 Thrush {T. varius,Fallas), was first described as an inhabitant 

 of Siberia, to which country and to the north-east of Asia 

 (i.e. China and Japan) it is now known to be a regular 

 summer visitant. Owing to causes that I cannot attempt 

 to explain, a small number of examples seem yearly to 

 migrate westwards in autumn, and to come into Europe, 

 where they occur as stragglers ; but the majority, no doubt, 

 retire more or less due southwards, for they have been 

 obtained in winter in the Philippine Islands and such like 

 places.' " 



Mr. Seebohm says : — " The occurrence of White's Thrush 



