TURDIN^. 



THE SONG-THRUSH. 



TuRDUs Musicus, Linnseus. 



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

 Mavis — is generally distributed throughout the British Islands ; and 

 in summer it appears to be equally at home 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). In the Shet- 

 lands, however, it is of very rare occurrence, and has not yet been 

 known to nest. Especially in the north, a migratory movement 

 takes place in autumn among our native birds, while considerable 

 numbers then visit us from the Continent. Northwards the Song- 

 Thrush has straggled to the desolate island of Jan Alayen, between 

 Iceland and Spitsbergen ; and southwards to Madeira. From 

 within the Arctic circle in Norway its breeding-range extends across 

 Europe and Asia up to about 60° N. lat., as far east as the Pacific ; 

 and southwards, throughout temperate Europe — sparingly and at 

 increasing elevations in the south — down to the Pyrencan chain, the 

 north of Italy, and the Caucasus. In winter, abandoning the colder 

 regions, it migrates in great numbers as f.ir as Northern Africa, 

 Nubia, Asia Minor, and Persia. 



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



B 2 



