SOME BIRD PROBLEMS 91 



land visitors. The point of difference in habit seems interesting, 

 and worthy of comparison. 



Those two magnificent songsters, the Garden Warbler (Sylvia 

 simplex) and Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), are a source of con- 

 fusion in regard to the notes they utter, even to the practised 

 ear, but my observations lead me to the belief that the Garden 

 Warbler always sings when on the move, mostly when searching 

 for insects, whereas the Blackcap, although of a restless disposi- 

 tion, is more fond of remaining stationary in an elevated position, 

 pouring out its remarkable flood of melody with its black crest 

 feathers prominently raised. The repertoire of this latter species 

 is wonderful, and one bird which seems to return unfailingly 

 to a common opposite my house, rattled off in quick succession 

 last Summer the easily-distinguished notes of the Whitethroat, 

 Thrush, Robin, Goldcrest, Blackbird, Nuthatch, Linnet, Night- 

 ingale, Garden Warbler, and Greenfinch. 1 It was certainly the 

 most remarkable utterance by an individual bird that it has ever 

 been my good fortune to listen to, in particular the notes of the 

 Blackbird, Nightingale, and Nuthatch being most distinct. Why 

 should one individual soloist have at command such an outburst 

 of mimicking song ? Why should this particular bird friend 

 of mine be the only known mocking bird in the parish ? 



Coming to the Family Turdidw, or Thrushes, enables me to 

 draw attention to a controversy which has recently taken place 

 as to whether the Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) utters a 

 song. Whoever thought fit to question the matter must have 

 been singularly lax, as, without doubt, this gipsy among birds, 

 of such roving disposition, does sing in spite of its old-fashioned 

 English names of Screaming Thrush, Screech Thrush, and Storm 

 Cock. The notes strike the ear as somewhat short, jerky, and 

 little -varied, but they are quite musical, and, uttered at a time 

 when most other birds are silent, are always welcome. Com- 

 pared with the utterance of the Song Thrush (Turdus musicus 

 darkii), that of the Mistle Thrush suffers considerably, but it is 

 a slight upon the latter to term the former the Song Thrush 

 when both species are rightly classified as song birds. I have a 

 note as to the nesting habits of the Song Thrush and Blackbird 

 (Turdus merula) which seems worth consideration. This refers 

 to their nesting upon, or close to, the ground much more 

 frequently than in days gone by. To what is this due ? Is the 

 explanation to be found in the fact that woods are so often cut 

 1 See also Chapter V. 



