Habits of the Stormcock, 411 



mory of St. Thomas the Apostle. In the olden time, it was 

 a common practice throughout the land to distribute corn to 

 the needy on the day in which the festival of this glorious 

 saint is kept. At present, the good dole seems fast approach- 

 ing to its latter end. Probably in a few years more it will fall 

 a victim to the times, and be trodden underfoot in the modern 

 march of intellect. 



This bird, though usually known by the name of the mistle- 

 toe thrush in many parts of England, is invariably called the 

 stormcock by all the lower orders in our neighbourhood : not 

 that it delights in storms more than in fine weather, but that 

 Nature has taught it to pour forth its melody at a time of the 

 year when the bleak winds of winter roar through the leafless 

 trees. Should, however, a few days of calm and warmth 

 succeed to the chilling blast, then the stormcock is heard to 

 sing, if anything, more sweetly than before. 



The stormcock is a decided inhabitant of trees, except 

 sometimes when in quest of food ; for at that time he may be 

 seen on the ground, and in berry-bearing shrubs. But in 

 shrubs I have never been able to find his nest, which is gene- 

 rally placed either in the forked branches of the forest trees, 

 or in those of the larger fruit trees, sometimes very high up, 

 and sometimes within 5 ft. of the ground. The outside of the 

 nest is composed of dried grass, to which is added a little 

 green moss; whilst the inside contains a lining of dried grass 

 alone, on which the female commonly lays five eggs, speckled 

 over with chocolate-coloured spots of a lighter and a darker 

 shade on a greyish-green ground. 



During the period of the breeding season, the habits of the 

 stormcock undergo a noted change. At other times of the 

 year, except in cherry time, and when the seeds of the different 

 species of the service tree are ripe, this bird carefully avoids 

 the haunts of man ; but no sooner does the time arrive in 

 which it has to make its nest, than it draws near to our ha- 

 bitations with the utmost confidence, and forms its nest in 

 places the most exposed to our view. There both male and 

 female protect their charge with matchless courage. On the 

 approach of an enemy, you immediately hear their singular 

 cry, which somewhat resembles the sound produced by strik- 

 ing the teeth of a comb smartly with. your finger; and you 

 see the parent birds dashing incessantly at the crow, the cat, 

 or the magpie, until they clear the coast. This year, there is 

 a stormcock's nest within fifteen yards of the place where the 

 masons are at work. Our tame magpie, which is allowed its 

 freedom, and the use of its wings, seized the female, some days 

 ago, and brought her close to the masons. The male bird 



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