328 THE THRUSH FAMILY 



have a rather stouter bill, and to be darker in hue, especially in the region 

 of the wrist, [w. P. P.] 



2. Distribution. The British Isles, Scandinavia and Central Europe, but 

 absent from the high north, and replaced in Spain, the Balkan Peninsula, Madeira 

 and the West Canaries, the Azores, South Morocco, North Morocco, and Algeria 

 as well as Syria, by local races. In the British Isles it is generally distributed 

 and plentiful, except in a few of the Outer Hebrides and the Shetlands, where it 

 is absent, and rare in the Orkneys. [F. c. E. J.] 



3. Migration. Resident as a species throughout our area, but rather com- 

 moner in winter than in summer, except in the most northerly districts. Many 

 individuals are probably stationary, or subject only to mere local movements. 

 Others are winter visitors or summer visitors, or perform shorter migrations within 

 our area. Autumn immigration with thrushes, felts and redwings from N. Europe 

 occurs on the east coast of Great Britain, and especially on the south-east of 

 England. A migration from Great Britain to the east coast of Ireland also takes 

 place at the same season. Autumn emigration southwards from our area is less 

 important, and is chiefly by way of the south-west of England. A certain amount 

 of late southward movement within our area, and even of emigration, may be 

 noted in winter when very severe weather sets in. In spring the various move- 

 ments are reversed. Mid-September till late November, and early March to mid- 

 April, are the chief migration periods. The autumn immigrants to our east coast 

 are young males to a very great extent. The species is chiefly a gregarious and 

 nocturnal traveller (Brit. Assoc. Rep. 1900, 404-9 ; cf. B. 0. C. Migration 

 Reports, iii. pp. 180 and 189 ; iv. pp. 172 and 182-183 : Nelson, B. of Yorks., 

 1907, pp. 14-15 : and Ussher and Warren, B. of Ireland, 1900, p. 6). [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. Nesting place : much the same situations as those of 

 the song-thrush, often in evergreens, hedges, or thick bushes : sometimes in ivy 

 or on banks, occasionally at a considerable height in trees, in buildings, or on the 

 ground. It is built of moss, stalks, grasses, and sometimes a few twigs, solidified 

 with mud and lined with the same material, but upon this is placed an inner lining 

 of dry grass. (PI. xiv.) Its construction is undertaken by the hen, but the cock has 

 been seen to assist (p. 371). Eggs 4 or 5, rarely 6, generally bluish green in ground 

 colour, sometimes evenly freckled all over with fine brown spots, and at other times 

 more or less boldly spotted or blotched with red-brown and grey shell-markings. 

 Sometimes these markings form a dense cap, and almost black streaks or spots 

 occur singly, while in other cases the ground colour ranges to clear blue, and 



