This is an Eastern species, breeding in Siberia from the Ural Mountains eastwards, and wintering in Persia, Afghanistan, and India. Stragglers have frequently been obtained in Europe, and two or three examples have been taken in these islands. The adult is brown on the upper parts and whitish below, except for the chin, which is spotted, and the throat and breast, which are black. Length 9·75 in.; wing 5·45 in. WHITE’S THRUSH Turdus varius, Pallas A large Thrush, rather bigger than a Missel Thrush, and not unlike that species in its immature plumage. It is of extremely rare occurrence on our islands, and has only been obtained in about eight or nine counties of England, and on three occasions in Ireland. Young Missel Thrushes have been frequently recorded as belonging to this species. White’s Thrush may, however, always be distinguished by having _fourteen_ tail feathers instead of twelve, and the under side of the wing, which in the Missel Thrush is pure white, has in this species a broad black bar across the centre. Its summer home lies across Siberia, east of the Yenesei, through Northern China and Japan, whence it migrates in winter to South China and the Philippines. THE BLACKBIRD Turdus merula, Linnæus Mingling with the Song Thrushes on the lawn, but always recognisable by his much longer tail and darker colour, we may at all times of the year see the Blackbird. He is hardly so familiar as his neighbour the Thrush, and prefers to keep near the shrubbery, where, on the least sign of real or imaginary danger, he may retire, and by remaining motionless be secure from observation; but if we follow him, and approach too near, he will fly away, uttering his loud alarm-note of “Cluck, cluck!” He will not be long away, however, and if we remain quiet he will soon be back again, crossing the lawn with long, measured hops, stopping now and again to look round and to spread and “flirt” his broad fan-shaped tail. The Missel Thrush will be sitting on the eggs, and the Song Thrush will have nearly completed her nest, before our sable friend begins to think of matrimonial cares. Towards the end of February his clear flute-like notes will be heard from the shrubbery or hedgerow—a song which, if more mellow in tone, is far shorter and more monotonous than that of the Song Thrush, although the performance of some individual Blackbirds is longer and more pleasing. He will now sing almost continuously, with the exception of a few short intervals spent in chasing his mate, who, unlike him, wears a dull suit of russet brown. And he will have to prove himself a _preux chevalier_ ere he can win his lady fair, for there will almost certainly be two or three other suitors to fight, and the victor alone can claim the lady, while the ousted competitors retire from the field. This extreme combativeness makes the species appear scarcer than