THE MISTLE -THRUSH. 397 



buff tips extending almost to the base of innermost feathers ; 

 median and lesser coverts like innermost greater coverts. 



First winter and summer. — Like adults but usually with a few 

 feathers on upper-parts, especially on rump, scapulars or wing- 

 coverts, with pale shaft-streaks ; usually rather deeper buff on 

 breast, sides and flanks than adults. The juvenile body-plumage, 

 lesser, median and inner greater wing -coverts are moulted May -Aug. 

 but not outer greater coverts, primary -coverts nor wing- and tail- 

 feathers. 



Measurements and structure. — (^ wing 145-157 (one 162) mm., 

 tail 100-117, tarsus 30-35, bill from skull 22-25 (12 measured). 

 $ wing 145-157. Primaries : 1st 8-15 mm. shorter than primary- 

 coverts, 3rd and 4th longest, 2nd 4-8 shorter, 5th 3-7 shorter, 6th 

 15-22 shorter ; 3rd to 5th clearly and 6th slightly emarginated 

 outer webs. Outermost tail-feathers about 5 mm. shorter than 

 rest, 12 feathers. Other structure as White's Thrush. 



Soft parts. — Bill dark horn-brown, with base of lower mandible 

 yellowish ; legs and feet yellowish -broAvn ; iris brown. 



Characters and allied forms. — T. v. deichleri (north-west 

 Africa) is scarcely separable but has a slightly longer and finer 

 bill and is frequently greyer on upj^er-parts and less buff on 

 under-parts ; T. v. honapartei (Turkestan, Himalayas) is larger and 

 upper-parts are paler and considerably greyer. White under-wing 

 distinguishes it at once from White's and Song-Thrushes. 



Field-characters. — Larger and greyer than Song-Thrush, with 

 larger and fan-shaped breast-spots. White tips to outer tail- 

 feathers show in flight at close quarters. White axiUaries and 

 under-wing distinguish from other Thrushes except Fieldfare, 

 from which differs in more undulating flight. Juveniles sometimes 

 mistaken for White's Thrush. Gregarious to some extent in 

 autumn ; feeds much on hedgerow fruit and berries of mountain 

 ash and juniper at that season. Intolerant of competition by 

 other Thrushes for such food, and fearless in defence of nest, boldly 

 attacking Hawks, Crows and Magpies. Song loud and wild, a 

 single phrase repeated again and again, lacks variety of Song- 

 Thrush's. CaU-note reiterated " tuc." Alarm-note a harsh, grating 

 " sgrade." 



Breeding-habits. — Usually builds in fork, or sometimes out on 

 bough, of a tree, often at considerable height above ground, but 

 also exceptionally in hedgerows or low bushes, and near the coast, 

 in recesses of rocks. Has also nested on buildings and holes in 

 walls. Nest. — Built of bents, roots, moss, etc., with earth to 

 solidify it, lined dry grasses, and sometimes decorated with lichens, 

 bits of wool, linen, rags, etc. Eggs. — Normally 4, occasionally 5, 

 and 6 on record. Colour ranges from tawny -cream to greenish-blue. 



