THRUSH. 
TUIWUS MUSICUS, 
This well-known songster is widely dispersed over the British Islands ; the nature of the country, however, 
being less suited to its habits in the north, it is not so abundant in many of the wild districts of tlie Highlands. 
On the flat moors of Sutherland and Caithness, Thrushes are for the most part conspicuous by their absence, 
though by no means scarce in certain parts of the Hebrides. 
Early in May 1877 I noticed several frequenting the walls and banks near the roadside on the track 
leading from Stornoway to Harris. The birds appeared more numerous in the vicinity of the scattered collec- 
tions of shealings, placed for the most part near the shores of the salt-water lochs; in the wilder and more 
deserted portions of the country but few were met with. It is stated by ornithological writers that the Thrushes 
of the Hebrides area smaller as well as a darker race; and though no specimens were obtained I at once 
remarked this distinction. Till examined through the glasses, I was almost at a loss to identify a pair or two 
keeping company with a few small parties of Starlings, but little difference being visible between the two 
species in the dull light of a West-Highland drizzle. 
As autumn advances a large accession to our native Thrushes may be noticed on the north-east coast of 
the Highlands. M hile Partridge-shooting on the Hill of Tarlogie, near Tain, on the 15th and IGth of September 
1868, I found the turnip-fields perfectly swarming with various species of small feathered migrants, which 
must have recently landed on the coast ; Blackbirds and Thrushes were strongly represented in their ranks, 
the whole body being evidently intent on working their way towards the south. Though a few continued iu 
the district for a week or two, the majority shortly disappeared and but the usual residents remained. As I 
did not meet with any considerable quantity of wings of this species among the contributions received from 
the light-ships off the east coast during the seasons of 1872 and 1873, I am of opinion that the course followed by 
this species when on the southward journey is most frequently towards the north-east coast of Scotland. 
The visitors that arrive on the shores of Boss-shire and the more northern counties early in the autumn 
probably distribute themselves over the country for a few months previous to undertaking a further journey. 
I have seldom noticed any considerable addition to the Tlirushes in the southern or eastern counties of England 
till frost and snow have set in. The more severe the weather the greater the number that pass alono- in 
company with countless Larks, Bedwiugs, and other small birds. On the Norfolk coast a few straggling parties 
were making their way south during the storm that occurred late in November 1879 ; and the followino- week I 
observed them working west along the shores of the channel in Sussex. Erom these dates till early in February 
I have watched them pursuing the same course on many occasions. The heavy fall of snow that broke over 
the country in January 1867 brought to the south coast myriads of all the species commonly seen under similar 
circumstances : for a week at least, with but slight intervals when the weather moderated, the fugitives con- 
tinued following a course from east to west. Thrushes, I have repeatedly remarked, are the first of the feathered 
tribe to exhibit signs of succumbing to the hardships encountered during their passage ; they may frequently 
