184 president's address. 



of some thirty, fifty, or a hundred birds, in August and September, 

 is indeed commonly known ; but as a few pairs of old birds may 

 always be seen in almost any woody neighbourhood during win- 

 ter, those flocks that were so conspicuous at the close of summer 

 are sometimes thought to have dispersed themselves again, or 

 even to have been shot. But they are much too wary for the 

 latter fate. The solution, as respects them, unquestionably is, 

 that these flocks were composed of young yearling birds, pulli 

 turdini, bent upon a bold but gradual progress towards the most 

 promising quarters for autumn and winter, that is, districts rich 

 in berries of hawthorn, service, yew, juniper, ivy, holly, sloe, 

 and mistletoe. Of such provisions our northern flocks of this 

 bird may be supposed to find an ample store in the midland coun- 

 ties, over which they will roam throughout the winter. 



Meantime those bred in the midlands, from a like instinct 

 prompting them to use their youthful wings, are moving into the 

 southern counties, always well stored with berries of every kind. 

 But similar August flocks of missel-thrushes, bred in the southern 

 orchards amidst all this plenty, will yet be restless and discon- 

 tented, till some fine morning, with a sharp frosty wind to waft 

 them, they will strike away boldly over the sea for Normandy. 

 They little know that the French fowlers are in full expectation 

 of their arrival, and have set hundreds of horse-hair springes for 

 them in the woods and coppices, all nicely baited with bunches 

 of berries, which are hung on twigs behind the fatal running 

 nooses. Such devices were totally unknown at home among the 

 beef-eating Saxons, and the capture is often very successful. 



Let us turn to the yearling young of our common song-thrush, 

 which breeds in such numbers in the North of England. They 

 find room in the southern counties, from whence, in like manner, 

 a large arrival takes place every autumn of these lesser grives on 

 the French coast; no doubt coming mainly from the South of 

 England, impelled by love of youthful flight and zest for change 

 of food ; for have not a few old travellers, that lead them, hinted 

 of a berry far richer than any in England, and cultivated on all 

 the sunny hill-sides ? So over they go ; for turdus musicus can 

 fly fast and strong, especially in the gloaming, and equally by 



