I N T R O D U C T I O N .
lx
Mr Rodd, respecting nn nnnsnal irruption o f this species, ■ be read with interest I it was received on the
24,h of April, 1870. “ I I sure you will be interested in hearing th at a large immigration of Golden
Orioles has taken place in the immediate neighbourhood o f Penzance and a t the Scilly Isles. They are mostly
in superb adult plumage. Five were killed on, of eight, and a fine male and a female besides, a t Trevethoe,
near Hayle. A flock o f forty or fifty was risen in a thiek plantation on the grounds afterwards.” Surely
such beautiful birds, when they do arrive in this country, should receive protection instead o f the d e tra c tio n
which now invariably awaits them.
Family TURDIDiE.
A large nnmber o f medium-sized iusessorial birds are inclnded in this fam ily -Th ru sh e s, Blackbirds,
Fieldfares, Redwings, &c. Their omnivorous appetite leads them to eat insects and their larva:,
snails, worms, fruits, and berries. Some are constantly resident, others are migratory; some spend the
summer, others the winter with ns.
Genus T u r d u s .
The Thrushes and the Blackbirds are seemingly very different; and were it not for numerous intervening
forms, the generic characters of Turdus and Merula would be more easily defined. The greater part
inhabit the temperate portion of the earth, but are not found in Australia o r New Zealand.
Vol. II. PI. XXXII.
8 1 . T u r d u s m u s i c u s ...........................................................................................................
T h r u sh .
Very generally distributed, and constantly residing and breeding here, as it does also in most parts o f the
European continent.
Vol. II. PI. XXXIII.
82. T u r d u s v i s c i v o r u s ................................................................................
M is s e l -T h r u sh .
Strictly stationary. Common in E u ro p e; generally breeds in all the middle counties of England. I t also
inhabits Scotland, where it is annually becoming more and more numerous. Sings early and breeds m May.
The following note from Professor Owen, dated Sheen Lodge, Richmond Park, 28th April, 1872, respectmg
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 itse lf; but you may not be aware th at it
bullies man himself. I was transplanting, about snnrise 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 a t me, sweeping close
past my face with a chattering scream, and, alighting on a branch about six yards off, turned round and
dashed back again, so that I ‘ ducked’ to save my eyes ; and these sweeping attacks were repeated four or
five times before (out o f a desire not to disturb a bird whose wild winter-notes I like) I moved off. I went
a roundabout way to a garden-seat about twenty yards from the scene o f the first disturbance, and shortly
after heard the same chattering, clattering, bullying note, and, having my binocular, made out my friend
(o r enemy) darting about the boughs o f an old acacia overhead, and continuing his remonstrances against
my vicinity, to which I again yielded.”
83. T u r d u s il ia c u s . . . . . • • • • • • Vol. II. PI. XXXIV.
R e d w in g .
A winter visitant, arriving with the Fieldfare in autumn, and departing northward in the spring.
Summers in Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and other portions of the old continent bordering the arctic circle.
84. T u r d u s p ila r is . . . . . • • • • • • • Vol. II. PI. XXXV.
F ie l d f a r e .
A winter visitant only. Breeds in Norway and many other parts o f the Old World. Comes to us about
the same time as the Woodcock—that is, in October, the period when the Ring-Ouzel departs.
85. T u r d u s a tr o g u la ris Vol. II. PI. XXXVI.
B lack-th r o a t e d T h r u sh .
A native o f Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Has been once killed in England, as will be seen on
reference to the Turdine section o f the work, where the circumstauce of its capture near Brighton is
fully detailed.
Genus M e r u l a .
o« H . „8 6 . M e r u l a v u lg a ris . . . . • • • • • • . • . Vol. H PI. XXXVII.
B la c k b ir d .
A resident and very generally distributed species, both in our islands and on the European continent.
87. M m .™ Vol. II. PI. XXXVIII.
R in g -O u z e l .
A summer visitant, which frequents rocky situations in Wales, the northern parts o f England, Scotland, &c.
Winters in Africa.
Genus O r eo cinc la.
A form very distinct both from Merula and T m m , of which five, six, or seven species, all inhabitants of