in the large woods in Turkey, 
grounds near the Bosphorus. They pass th 
143 
but it is never seen in summer in the parks and cultivated 
rough Turkey and Asia Minor in flocks in the middle 
ddle of April, and many remain for the whole winter (Dresser, B. 
of October, returning in the mi 
a it is only a winter visitant, and the species 
Eur. ii. p. 6). In Southern Russia and the Crime 
is said to winter also in Persia. In the British Museum is а specimen collected by Mr. L. Barody 
in the Lebanon, and Canon Tristram says that he also once saw it in the same place in winter. He 
likewise records his having seen young, which had shortly before left the nest, on the southem 
spurs of the Taurid, near Marash (Faun. & Flor. Palest. p. 50). 
The following account of the habits of the present species is taken from Seebohm's * History 
of British Birds’ :— 
“The haunts of the Mistle-Thrush are considerably diversified, the rich, well-cultivated 
districts and the borders of the moorlands being equally tenanted by them. In the former situation 
ind in the neighbourhood of large gardens, in orchards, shrubberies, small woods, 
and plantations, and especially in well-wooded parks and pleasure-grounds. On the borders of the 
upland wilds it frequents the fir-plantations, wooded roughs, and the banks of mountain-streams 
and coppices of birch and alder. Тһе Mistle-Thrush is found in Great Britain throughout the 
year; but it is subject to some little internal migration. For instance, the birds that frequent 
the upland districts in summer retire to the lower lands in winter; and birds from the more 
isolated woods and coppices draw nearer to the cultivated districts should the weather be severe. 
But these remarks apply to our indigenous birds alone. The rigours of a northern winter 
send the Mistle-Thrush southwards; and considerable numbers of these migrants remain on ош 
shores throughout the winter, arriving at the same time as the Fieldfare, with which bird they 
often associate. Although for the greater part of the year the Mistle-Thrush is a non-gregarious 
bird, still in the early autumn, when the breeding-season is over, and the young birds are strong 
on the wing, a sociable disposition manifests itself. Тһе birds are then seen in little parties; 
and as the autumn progresses they congregate in considerable flocks, very often being mistaken 
for early arrivals of Fieldfares. At this season the Mistle-Thrushes are extremely wild and 
wary, and are usually seen on the turnip-fields or newly-ploughed lands in the early morning, 
and later in the day on the grass-fields and stubbles. In the turnip-fields they choose the parts 
where the crop has been cleared off, and, as a rule, do not skulk under the broad leaves, like the 
Song-Thrush; but they are, nevertheless, easily alarmed, and take wing the instant that danger 
threatens, rising into the air, and flying from tree to tree, uttering their harsh and grating cries 
both as they fly and when they are at rest in the tree-tops. Ав the year begins to wane and the 
leafless twigs tell of the approach of winter, these bands of Mistle-Thrushes, from some unknown 
cause, disperse; and for the rest of the winter the birds either live in solitude or congregate in 
small parties only. Although in the nesting-season few birds excel the Mistle-Thrush in 
trustfulness, at all other times of the year he is а shy and wary bird, and rarely comes near 
houses, save when hard pressed for food. Mistle-Thrushes, as а rule, fly much higher than 
Song-Thrushes or Blackbirds. They are capable of flying with great swiftness, and have considerable 
command over themselves in the air—witness their motions round the head of an intruder when in 
the neighbourhood of their nest. At other times they fly with a series of rapid beats with but 
short intervals of cessation, and with but very little undulation. Тһе Mistle-Thrush when 
about to alight on a tree usually ascends some little distance to а perching-place. It is a 
decided inhabitant of trees and shrubs, except when in search of food, which for eight months 
in the year is found chiefly on the ground. Тһе remaining four mont 
berry feeder, although, if the weather be mild and open, we find him 
grasslands in company with the Red-wing. 
it is usually foi 
hs he is for the most part a 
pretty frequently on the 
—Í es 
