THE ZOOLOGIST 



No. 691. — January, 1899. 



ORIGINAL SKETCHES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 

 By H. S. Davenport. 



The Mistle- Thrush (Turdus viscivorus). 



The song of the Mistle-Thrush has an indescribable charm 

 for most lovers of birds, and, it may be added, not without reason. 

 Heard at a time of the year when the afternoons are visibly 

 lengthening out, and our thoughts are attuned to the coming of 

 spring, the associations connected with it doubtless tend to a 

 pleasing influence upon the listener apart from any actual merit 

 contained in the song itself, which, to my mind, is considerable. 



The melody, however, is somewhat curtailed, no matter 

 whether poured forth in storm or in sunshine, with a distinct 

 kind of curl in it, resembling not a little the wild notes of the 

 Ring-Ouzel. I do not know if others have remarked this 

 peculiarity in the song to which I have alluded, and which it is 

 quite possible may be considered a very indifferent definition of 

 what it is my wish to convey ; nevertheless, this curious intona- 

 tion, which I have attempted to describe by the term " curl," is 

 distinctly present. 



It has been stated with a show of authority that Mistle- 

 Thrushes are not gregarious, but that they consort in families ; 

 the fact remains, however, that Mistle-Thrushes are to be seen 

 associating in considerable numbers in the month of September 

 every year. Now I must say at the outset that I am far from 

 wishing to criticize the observations and experiences of others, 



Zool. 4th ser. vol. III., January, 1899. b 



