MISTLETOE-THRUSH. 261 



ties of Englaiicl and Wales, though there is good evidence 

 that an hundred years ago it did not occur in several parts 

 of the country, particularly towards the north.* The like 

 has been observed in Ireland and Scotland. In the first, 

 Thompson states that it is a resident species pretty gene- 

 rally distributed over wooded districts, adding that the 

 " remarkable feature in the history of this bird, is its 

 absence from the country until of late years, and its rapid 

 increase from the period of its first appearance," which is 

 said to have been in the year 1800 t, at Kedhall in Antrim. 

 Soon after it bred in the county of Down, and in 1807 in 

 Louth. In 1832 it was common and resident in the north- 

 west of Donegal, and in 1839 it had appeared and was 

 increasing in Galway, while it had also become common in 

 Tipperary. One killed in Cork in 1818 Avas considered an 

 extraordinary rarity, and in Kerry the species was first seen 

 in 1827. Similar evidence is given from other counties, but 

 enough has been cited to shew that this species has not only 

 been an invader of but a successful settler in Ireland. As 

 to Scotland, Mr. R. Gray states that there has been a gradual 

 increase in its numbers throughout the country during the 

 last thirty years. " So recently", he adds, "as 1830, it was 

 rather an unusual circumstance to find a Missel Thrush 

 breeding in any locality north of the Tweed. Now however 

 it is very common almost everywhere, extending, as I am 

 informed by Mr. Brown, to the counties of Sutherland, 

 Ross and Caithness." In both kingdoms it is said that at 

 first its breeding-haunts were confined to the more sheltered 

 spots, but that it gradually spread from them over the 

 plantations generally. Messrs. Baikie and Heddle mention 

 that this species occurs in Orkney after strong easterly gales, 

 but it does not appear to have been yet obtained in Shetland. 



* For instence it haa been said that when at the end of tlie last century 

 Bewick wished to figure this species among his inimitable woodcuts, he, living at 

 Newcastle-on-Tyne, had some difficulty in procuring a specimen. If the story 

 be true, the species must soon after have appeared there, for the Editor is in- 

 formed by Mr. John Hancock that he knew of a nest iu the town fifty years ago. 



t Or even not until 1808 (B. Ireld. iii. p. 436). 



