TURDUS MUSICUS, Linn.
SONG-THBTJSH.
La petite Grive, Briss. Orn. ii. p. 205 (1760).
Turdus musicus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 292 (1766) ; Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus.- v. p. 191
(J88.1) ; id. Hist. Brit. B .jp p. 213 (.1883); B. 0 . U. List Brit. B. p. 1 (1883); Lilford,
Col. Fig. Brit. B. part i. (1885); Saunders, Man. Brit. B. p. 3 (1889); Sharpe, Handb. Brit. B.
i. p. 263, pi. xxii. fig. 1 (1894).
Grive appellee La Litorne, D’Aubent. PI. Enl. iv. pi. 406.
L a Galandrotte, D’Aubent. PI. Enl. iv. pi. 490.
La Grive, Montb. Hist. Nat. Ois. iii. p. 280 (1775).
Turdus iliacus (nec Linn.), Bodd. Tabl. PI. Enl. p. 24 (1783).
Turdus pilaris (nec Linn.), Bodd. Tabl. PI. Enl. p. 29 (1783).
Sylvia musica, Savi, Orn. Tosc. p. 211 (1827).
Turdus minor, Brehm, Yog. Deutscbl. p. 382 (1831).
Tu/rdus philomelos, Brehm, Yog. Deutschl. p. 382 (1831).
Merula musica, Selby, Brit. Orn. i. p. 162 (1833).
Song-Thrush, Yarrell, Brit. B. i. p. 193 (1843).
' Iliacus musicus, Des Murs, Traite d’Ool. p. 292 (1860).
Hylocichla musicus, Bidgw. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. iii. p. 224 (1881). ,
T. caud& olivascenti-bnmne& : axillaribus et hypochondriis aurantiaeo-fulvis: supercilio pallido obsoleto: maculis
pectoralibus nigris triquetris.
T he Song-Thrush is an inhabitant of the Western Palaearctic Region, extending eastwards to the
Yenesei Valley, but becoming gradually rarer in Eastern Siberia. It breeds throughout the greater
part of this area, in which, however, it is also an extensive spring and autumn migrant. In the
British Islands it nests almost universally, but has not been known to breed in the Shetlands. In
Ireland, according to Mr. Ussher, “ it nests commonly in every county, but more sparingly in the
extreme west, as in Valencia, Achill, the Mullet, and Western Donegal, where it is chiefly known as
a winter visitor” (Proc. Roy. Irish Acad. (3) iii. p. 402, 1894). With regard to its migrations,
Professor Newton writes as follows :—“ Towards the end of summer, our native Thrushes receive a
considerable accession in number from the birds that arrive from the north; but in most localities
these strangers depart after a short sojourn, and are accompanied by the great bulk of the home-bred
birds. Sufficient of the latter, however, remain throughout the year to give rise to the general
belief that in Britain at least the Song-Thrush is not a migratory speeles, though its seasonal
movements have long been noticed, and in some parts of this island it may be stated as a fact that not
a single bird can be seen frbm the end of November to the end of January or beginning of February.”
It is said that specimens of the Song-Thrush from the Hebrides are darker in colour and smaller in
size than those from the mainland.
The Song-Thrush has occurred as a straggler in the island of Jan Mayen. In Norway and
vol. I. u