BIRDS 



2. Song-Thrush. Turdus musicus, Linn. 



Locally, Grey Bird, Grey Drush, Trossel, 

 Drostle or Throstle. 



An abundant resident, and generally dis- 

 tributed over the county, excepting the moors. 

 Our summer resident thrushes are to a great 

 extent replaced in autumn by immigrants from 

 the eastward. These birds are much darker 

 in plumage, and the spots on the breast are 

 much more intense in colour, than in our 

 native birds. Great numbers of song-thrushes 

 have been seen passing to the south at the 

 Eddystone Lighthouse in September and 

 October. In severe w^eather thrushes assemble 

 in south Devon in surprising numbers. This 

 was especially noticeable in February 1 900. 



3. Redwing. Turdus iliacus, Linn. 



Locally, Windle, Winnard. 

 A winter visitor, generally very abundant, 

 but in some years few are seen. Arrives from 

 the middle of October to the beginning of 

 November, and remains to the middle or end 

 of March. Large numbers pass the Eddy- 

 stone Lighthouse in October going south. 

 In severe seasons great numbers perish. 

 White and bufiF-coloured specimens have been 

 obtained. A mottled specimen occurred at 

 Kingsbridge in January 1899, with yellow 

 beak and flesh-coloured legs. 



4. Fieldfare. Turdus pilaris, Linn. 



Locally, Blue-bird, Vole-vier or Vilveer, Felt. 

 A winter visitor, arriving in October and 

 remaining till March, but only seen on the 

 lowlands in severe weather. At such times 

 it congregates, in great numbers in gardens, 

 even in the large towns, to feed on holly berries. 

 At ordinary times this bird keeps to the 

 borders of the moors where abundance of 

 mountain ash and hawthorn berries can be 

 procured. In February 1895 vast numbers 

 of fieldfares visited Kingsbridge, and again in 

 February 1900. 



5. White's Thrush. Turdus varius, Pallas 

 An example of this eastern species was shot 



by Mr. E. Studdy in Dene Wood on the edge 

 of Dartmoor near Ashburton, 11 January 

 1 88 1. It was in company with three or four 

 other birds apparently of the same species. 



6. Blackbird. Turdus merula, Linn. 



Locally, Black Drush, Colly (A.-S. col= 

 black). 



An abundant resident throughout the 

 county excepting the moors. There appears 

 to be a considerable emigration to the south 

 in autumn. Parti-coloured individuals are 

 not uncommon, and albinos occur occasion- 



ally. The late Mr. J. Gatcombe met with 

 an albino having a black tail at Plymouth in 

 May 1885. 



7. Ring-Ouzel. Turdus torquatus, Linn. 



Locally, Tor-Ouzel, Moor Blackbird, Mountain 

 Colly, Michaelmas Blackbird. 

 A summer migrant frequenting many of 

 the rocky tors of Dartmoor especially when 

 the whortleberries are ripe in July and 

 August. Being very sensitive to cold winds, 

 it is always found on the lee side of the tor. 

 It is also to be met with on most of the other 

 parts of the moor being almost the only 

 denizen of the central swamps. It breeds on 

 Dartmoor and on some of the moors in north 

 Devon in May. A few pairs inhabit the 

 Valley of Rocks near Lynton, and it has been 

 seen on Lundy Island. During the period of 

 migration in autumn, flocks visit the south 

 coast for about a fortnight previous to their 

 departure for the south. Stragglers occasion- 

 ally occur in the more cultivated districts in 

 spring and autumn, and in a few instances 

 have been seen in winter on the south coast. 

 An albino specimen shot by Mr. F. R. 

 Wolfe, on Leighon Tor in the parish of 

 Manaton, 9 October, 1 890, ig in the Torquay 

 Museum. 



8. Wheatear. Saxicola oenanthe (Linn.) 



Locally, Chickell. 

 A summer migrant. Breeds freely on 

 Dartmoor, and in small numbers about Ply- 

 mouth Sound, the Bolt Head and Thurle- 

 stone. Numerous especially in spring and 

 autumn on some parts of our sea-coasts, as at 

 Plymouth, between Bolt Tail and Start Point, 

 Exmouth and near Axmouth in south Devon, 

 and Morte Point in north Devon. Also on 

 the moors and other uncultivated parts of the 

 county in summer. Usually arrives about the 

 middle of March, though sometimes at the 

 beginning of that month, the males preceding 

 the females by about a fortnight or three 

 weeks. Towards the end of September 

 wheatears assemble on the coasts, and take 

 their departure during October, early in 

 which month they have been observed passing 

 the Eddystone Lighthouse. The writer saw 

 one at Exmouth as late as 4 November 1894. 

 Examples of the large race of wheatear have 

 been obtained at Kingsbridge, Exmouth and 

 other places. 



9. Whinchat. Pratincola rubetra (Linn.) 



Locally, Furze-chat. 

 A summer migrant, arriving about the 

 middle or end of April and departing in 

 October. Though not a numerous species in 



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