22 



October, and arriving early in March. It is likewise one of the commonest birds in France ; and 

 Bailly writes : — " The Song-Thrush is common in Switzerland and Savoy during the summer, but 

 migrates southward about the time when the Snipe commence to arrive here from the north, 

 excepting stray birds which occasionally remain over the winter." In Spain, says Mr. Howard 

 Saunders, " this species swarms from October to March, when all seem to retire northwards, and 

 even from the higher wooded regions of the Sierra Nevada. I have never received its very 

 unmistakable egg." Our friend Major Irby tells us that at Gibraltar it " arrives early in 

 November, leaving about the end of March, and during that period is common. I have seen 

 one in April, but never met with or heard of a nest." In Portugal Mr. A. C. Smith says he 

 found it common in suitable haunts ; but Dr. E. Rey tells us that he did not see it in that 

 country himself. Count Salvadori writes to us as follows : — " Not a few Thrushes live in our 

 highest mountains during summer, descending to the plains in autumn, when immense numbers 

 arrive from the north, and, after having traversed Northern Italy, go into winter quarters in 

 the warmest parts, especially in the Maremma, Sicily, and Sardinia, whence they start again 

 for the north in March. I have noticed that in Piedmont they begin to appear on the plains 

 about the middle of September, whereas they do not arrive in Central Italy till the beginning of 

 October." Professor Doderlein remarks : — " In the district of Modena this species is very abun- 

 dant on the autumn passage, and somewhat less so in the spring, when almost all continue north- 

 wards, only a few remaining to nest in the Upper Apennines. In Sicily it is very abundant in 

 winter, arriving in October." Lord Lilford writes that it is " very common in winter in Corfu, 

 Epirus, and Acarnania, arriving in October, and disappearing in April ; a few, I think, occa- 

 sionally remain to breed in Epirus." Captain Sperling says that he found it in Rhodes, Greece, 

 and the Ionian Islands, and he further remarks: — "These birds are not very plentiful in summer; 

 but in winter they are in the greatest abundance ; so I suppose that the numbers are increased 

 by migrants from more northern climes." Lindermayer considers it the commonest Thrush in 

 Greece, but he says it has not yet been observed to breed there. Von der Miihle, however, 

 believes that it breeds in Ruinelia, and states that it is very common in the vineyards from the 

 late autumn throughout the winter. Messrs. Elwes and Buckley found it common in Turkey ; 

 and Mr. Robson sends us the following note : — " This species is numerous in Turkey in Asia and 

 Europe ; and quantities are shot by sportsmen for the table in winter. In the middle of October 

 numbers arrive and pass into Asia Minor, repassing into Europe in the beginning of April ; many 

 stay over the winter in thickets on mountain-sides and valleys, and in large woods. In summer 

 they are rarely seen away from the large woods, which they continue to inhabit, and rear up their 

 young. Some of these birds are smaller and darker-spotted than others, and correspond with 

 those found in the north of England in winter, and called by the people ' Whin Greybird.' In 

 the cultivated gardeus and parks near the Bosphorus it is not seen in summer." The late Mr. 

 Strickland found it at Smyrna during the winter ; and it was among the birds forwarded from 

 Trebizond by Mr. Keith E. Abbott. Professor von Nordmann says that it breeds " in several 

 parts of New Russia. Both in the spring and autumn migration it is found near Odessa." Mr. 

 H. Goebel records it as common at Uman, where it breeds, arriving late in March and leaving 

 late in October or in November. According to Radde it occurs in Central Siberia, as he found it 

 amongst the cage-birds at Irkutsk. Von Middendorif says that it "breeds not uncommonly 



