lx 
INTRODUCTION. 
Mr. Rodd, respecting an iinnsiial irruption of this species, will be read with interest ; It was received on the 
24th of April, 1870. “I am sure you will be interested in hearing that a large immigration of Golden 
Orioles has taken place in the immediate neiglibourhood of Penzance and at the Scilly Isles. They are mostly 
in superb adult plumage. Five were killed out of eight, and a fine male and a female besides, at Trevethoe, 
near Hayle. A flock of forty or fifty was risen in a thick plantation on the grounds afterwards.” Surely 
such beautiful birds, when they do arrive in this country, should receiv’e protection instead of the destruction 
which now invariahly awaits them. 
Family TURDIDJE. 
A large number of medium-sized insessorial birds are included in this family — Thrushes, Blackbirds, 
Fieldfares, Redwings, See. Their omnivorous appetite leads them to eat insects and their larvae, 
snails, worms, fruits, and berries. Some are constantly resident, others are migratory ; some spend the 
summer, others the winter with ns. 
Genus Turdus. 
Ihe Thrushes and the Blackbirds are seemingly very different; and were it not for numerous intervening 
foi ms, the generic characters of TuTdus and Merida would be more easily defined. The greater part 
inhabit the temperate portion of the earth, but arc not found in Australia or New Zealand. 
81. Turdus musicus Vol. II. PI. XXXII. 
Thrush. 
Very generally distributed, and constantly residing and breeding here, as it does also in most parts of the 
Euro])ean continent. 
82. Turdus viscivorus Vol. II. PI. XXXIII. 
Missel-Thrush. 
Strictly stationary. Common In Europe ; generally breeds in all the middle counties of England. It also 
inhabits Scotland, where it is annually becoming more and more numerous. Sings early and breeds in May. 
The following note from Professor Owen, dated Sheen Lodge, Richmond Park, 28th April, 1872, respecting 
the pugnacious propensities of this species, cannot fail to be of interest : — “ You know that the Missel- 
Thrush boldly attacks Magpies and other birds larger than itself ; but you may not be aware that it 
bullies man himself. I vvas transplanting, about sunrise this morning, and was startled by a loud menacing 
noise above me, and on rising and looking up saw a Missel-Thrush darting from branch to branch, 
chattering loudest as it passed over and near to my head ; and then it made a dash at me, sweeping close 
past my face with a chattering scream, and, alighting on a branch about six yards off’, turned round and 
