Occurrence of White's Thrush, by Andrew Brotherston. 519 



Mr Burn told me that the one he shot, resembled a Hawk when 

 on the wing ; and that some small birds which were feeding on 

 the ground, took flight on its approach. 



In Yarrell's lifetime there appears to have been great confu- 

 sion between the true T. vhrius and other allied species, viz. : — 

 T. Rorsfieldi [T. varius, Horsfield) a native of Java ; T. dauma, an 

 Indian Thrush, and T. lunulatus from Australia ; examples of one 

 or other of these birds, frequently personating the true T. varius 

 in collections. 



I am much indebted to Professor Newton, who has seen and 

 examined this specimen, for a large amount of interesting infor- 

 mation concerning these Thrushes. He writes, " at least nine 

 examples of this bird have been before now killed in Britain. 

 They are : — 



1. Christchurch, Hants, 24th January, 1828. 



2. Bandon, Cork, December, 1842. 



3. Welford, Warwickshire, 26th January, 1859. 



4. Ballymahon, Longford, 1867. 



5. Hestercombe, Somerset, January, 1870. 



6. Langsford, Somerset, 6th January, 1871. 



7. Hickling, Norfolk, 10th October, 1871. 



8. Castle Eden, Durham, 31st January, 1872. 



9. Probus, Cornwall, early in January, 1874." 



After mentioning the example said to have been killed in the 

 New Forest (the Australian bird, T. lunulatus) and another ex- 

 ample recorded as having been killed near Huddersfield, which, 

 he thinks, also wants confirmation, he says, " I have heard also 

 of three others having been seen — one in Kent, one in York- 

 shire, and one in Durham." 



" On comparison with a specimen that has been long mounted, 

 the fresh beauty of the colours in yours is very decidedly 

 marked, yet I fear nothing can be done to preserve its tints, and 

 that when as many years have elapsed their richness will have 

 disappeared. I have wholly failed to find any indication that 

 would enable me to determine the sex or age of your bird. 

 There is no question about its being the true T. varius of Pallas, 

 though the tail is wanting — an unfortunate thing, as therein lies 

 one of the most curious characters of this species — one that is 

 possessed so far as I know, by only one other species of Thrush 

 (T. Sorsfieldi) — the presence of fourteen instead of twelve 

 rectrices." 2 m 



