Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/241

Rh and duties of that time, and may revert to it by association of ideas when they are well-fed and comfortable in November and December. But the majority of the singers of last autumn—immigrants, birds of the year, and females—were very possibly using their voices only in what Dr. Häcker has called "voice-play." Thus, if by any chance I am right, there is a twofold element in the winter song of this species; but further observations may be expected to correct or modify a conclusion which I only advance with hesitation.

It may be as well to add that in the North of England the Song-Thrush does not seem to be a familiar winter singer, no doubt owing to the southward migration of this species in the autumn. I am never myself in the north during the winter, and have to rely on the evidence of others; but I find Waterton, in his characteristic essay on the Stormcock, describing the latter bird as "cheering us with his melody during the dreary months of winter when the Throstle and the Lark are silent." Lately Mr. E.P. Butterfield, of Wilsden, near Bradford, in the natural history column of the 'Yorkshire Weekly Post' (Dec. 29th, 1900), asked "whether any of your readers have heard the Song-Thrush in full song in Yorkshire in December"; and added that he himself had not, even in the most favourable season.

I add a few notes about the winter singing of our two other common Thrushes, the Mistle-Thrush and the Blackbird. The former bird is a curiously irregular singer, and in his habit of singing in the face of a strong wind he stands alone. I did not notice him this year till December 19th, and it is in December, I think, that his voice is most conspicuous. That the mid-winter singing of this species is the beginning of the spring or breeding song is almost certain; for he is a very early breeder, and is rarely in difficulties for food to support his vigorous vitality. Like the Crossbill, he finds much of his favourite food in perfection in December and January—viz. the berries of the ivy, yew, mistletoe, &c.

As regards the Blackbird, it is worth noting that, in the passage translated above, Dr. Häcker mentions this species as regularly singing after the moult (i.e. in September) at Freiburg-in-Breisgau; and Gilbert White says the same of the Selborne Blackbirds (letter xl. to Pennant, and letter ii. to Barrington). Zool. 4th ser. vol, V., June, 1901.