THE HEBRIDEAN SONG-THRUSH. 403 



Feb., and lasts throughout March, and into April. Irish winter- 

 residents return about late March. 



DISTRIBUTION. Abroad. According to a note by Baron R. 

 Snouckaert van Schauburg, the British form also inhabits Holland 

 (Orn. Monatsber., 1910, p. 158 ; cf. Brit. B., v, p. 223). 



168. Turdus philomelus hebridensis Clarke. THE HEBRI- 

 DEAN SONG-THRUSH. 



TURDUS MUSICTJS HEBRIDENSIS Clarke, Scott. Nat., p. 53 (1913 Barra 

 Outer Hebrides). 



DESCRIPTION (Plate 14). Adult male and female. Upper-parts 

 darker, more earth-brown and less warm brown than in T. ph. 

 clarkei, and rump and upper tail-coverts more tinged with grey, 

 upper-parts thus more like T. ph. philomelus in tone but consider- 

 ably darker and without olive tinge ; under -parts much more 

 thickly spotted than in T. ph. clarkei or T. ph. philomelus, spots 

 being larger and more intense black ; less buff on under-parts than 

 in T. ph. clarkei ; flanks considerably darker and more smoky-brown 

 than in either of the other races ; under wing-coverts and axillaries 

 darker and richer and more cinnamon-buff ; tail, wings and 

 wing-coverts darker than in either of the other races. 



Nestling. (Not examined.) 



Juvenile. Like that of T. ph. clarkei but upper -parts darker 

 and pale mesial streaks consequently more accentuated ; under- 

 parts with less buff than in T. ph. clarkei, spots scarcely larger but 

 blacker ; flanks darker (more dingy) ; under wing-coverts darker 

 and richer as in adults. 



Measurements and structure. As in T '. ph. clarkei, but bill 

 rather larger on average, viz. 22-24 mm. (12 measured). 



Soft parts. Apparently as in T. ph. clarkei but possibly legs 

 and feet rather darker. 



BREEDING-HABITS. Owing to absence of trees nest is generally 

 built among rocks and heather, like that of Ring-Ouzel. Nest. 

 Similar in construction to that of British Song -Thrush. Eggs. 

 Also similar. 



POOD. In addition to worms, snails and insects, much of the food 

 of this race is obtained on the shore, marine mollusca, up to size 

 of whelk, being largely taken. 



DISTRIBUTION. British Isles. Apparently confined to 0. Hebrides, 

 but may possibly be found to inhabit some I. Hebrides also. 

 Has not yet been identified as migrant. 



2D2 



