BRITISH BIRDS. 7 



to the north of Scotland, also in Wales, Devon and 

 Cornwall ; in Ireland breeds sparingly in all the 

 mountainous districts. Nest : usually in the steep bank 

 of a mountain stream or watercourse, sometimes in low 

 bushes ; similar to Blackbird's, and constructed of moss, 

 roots, small twigs, etc., plastered with mud and lined with 

 dry grass. Eggs : 4 or 5 ; greenish-blue, spotted and 

 blotched with reddish-brown, markings being usually 

 more distinct than in eggs of Blackbird ; size 1*15 by '85. 



GENUS II. MONTICOLA, F. Boie (1822). 

 Combines part of the characteristics of Turdus and 

 Saxicola ; differs from former in having tail short and 

 even; wings moderate, and bill and feet rather stout. 



9. Montieola saxatilis (Linn.). ROCK-THRUSH. 



Hab. Southern Europe and temperate Asia, eastward 

 to North China. In winter south to Africa and N.W. 

 India. 



Male : head, nape, lower part of back, and throat, slate- 

 blue ; upper part of back dusky-blue ; centre of back 

 white ; wing-feathers dusky-brown ; middle tail-feathers 

 brown, remainder chestnut ; under plumage chestnut ; 

 bill black ; tarsi brownish. Length 7*30. Female : 

 mottled with brown above, and also on orange-brown 

 lower parts ; tail-feathers, chestnut ; throat, white. 



One occurrence only is known ; an example shot in 

 Hertfordshire (1843). 



GENUS III. SAXICOLA, Beohstein (1802) 

 Wing with 3rd or 4th quill longest. Tarsus long ; hind 



claw moderate, stout, curved. 



After autumn moult most of the feathers of wings and 



upper plumage show broad buff margins. 



