408 REPORT— 1900. 



month, the emigratory movements of the Thrush are pronounced, and are 

 almost entirely confined to the northeast coast of England and to the 

 eastern and northern stations of Scotland . Some movements are also in 

 evidence on the west coast of Britain, where the birds departing from 

 Ireland and the Hebridean Islands are observed.' 



On these occasions the Thrush is noted as emigrating in company with 

 Blackbirds {Tiirdus mertiJa), Fieldfares (T. pilaris), Redwings {T. iliaciis), 

 and Redbreasts {Erithacus rubecula). 



During April the British emigratory movements doubtless become 

 merged with those of the Thrushes which are on passage along our coast- 

 line, proceeding from their more southern winter to their more northern 

 summer quarters. 



Spring Birds of Passage. — The first undoubted appearance of the Thrush 

 as a bird of passage takes place at the end of March, when the birds which 

 have wintered in South-western Europe, and are en route for breeding 

 quarters to the north of our isles, arrive on the south coast of England in 

 company with Blackbirds (Trtrc??iS7wer?/.?a), Fieldfares (T.pi^aHs), Redwings 

 {T. iliaciis), Wheatears (Saxicola oenanthe), ' Warblers ' (Sylviidce), Larks 

 {Alauda a^-vensis), Starlings (Siurnus vulgaris), and, occasionally. Wood- 

 cocks (Scolopax riisticula). 



These early arrivals do not appear to proceed to North- Western Europe 

 instanter,- for, as we have stated, there are no March emigrations. The 

 passage continues throughout April, when the voyageurs pass northwards 

 along our eastern seaboard, where they are joined by many of our British 

 emigrants of the same species ; and it is often a matter of difficulty to 

 distinguish between these classes of migrants during certain movements 

 in April. 



In the years 1881, 1883, and 1885 there were a few movements which 

 carry the date of passage into May, the 10th of that month being the 

 latest date on which the northern migration of the Thrush is recorded.*^ 



Such is the history of the Song- Thrush as a British migratory bird, 

 when the tangled skein of its various movements has been reduced to order 

 through careful study. 



The main facts elicited are : 



1. That many Thrushes leave us at the end of summer and during the 

 autumn, indicating that a very considerable number are summer visitors 

 to our islands ; 



2. That the first immigrant Thrushes — winter visitors and birds of 

 passage — appear on our shores from the N.E. during the latter days of 

 September ; 



' Professor Collett, Oversigt af Christiania Omegns ornithologiske Fauna, p. 2(5, 

 gives from the early to the last days of April as the period for the Thrush's arrival 

 in spring in the Christiania district. 



■^ From March 19 to 26, 1898, the Rev. O. Pickard-Cambridge, F.E.S., records an 

 increasing number of Thrushes around his rectory at Wareham, on the coast of Dorset. 

 On the 25th the land was fairly covered with them, and there must have been 200 or 

 more in one field. On the 26th there were even more. On the 27th there were fewer, 

 and by the evening of the 28th all had departed. Xool., 1898, p. 264. 



' 1881, May 2, Inner Fame, Thrushes at lantern with blackbirds (Tardus mer via) 

 and Ring Ousels (T. torquatus). 1883, May 8 and 10, at same station, in company 

 with the same species ; May 7, Flamborough Head, four killed. 1885, May 2, 3,5, and 6, 

 Pentland Skerries, with Ring Ousels [T. torquatus), Fieldfares {T. pilaris), and Red- 

 breasts {Erithacus rubecula^ ; 5th and 8th, Isle of May, several with ' Warblers ' 

 (Sylviida-). Red-backed Shrike {Lanins collurio), and RuflE {Machetes pvgnax). 



