THE MISSELTOE THRUSH. 



151 



Their nests are built in woods or orchards, and not unfrequently in 

 thick hedges near the ground. The outside of the nest consists of 

 fine and soft moss, interwoven with dried grass or hay; and the inside 

 is curiously plastered with Cow- dung. The eggs are usually five or 

 six in number, of a deep blue color marked with black spots. Eacl» 

 brood, for a little while, follows separately its parents; but this does 

 not long continue, for, as soon as the individuals are capable of obtain- 

 ing their own subsistence, they disperse. 



We are informed by M. de Buffon, that in a few of the districts of 

 Poland such immense numbers of Thrushes are sometimes caught, 

 that the inhabitants load small vessels with them for exportation. 

 The Redwing is a variety of the Thrush. 



THE MISSEL, OR MISSELTOE THRUSH, OR STORMCOCE. 



The Missel, or Missel toe Thrush, or Storm cock, according to 

 Waterton, "surpasses all 

 other Thrushes in size, 

 and is decidedly the 

 largest songster of the 

 European birds. He 

 remains with us the 

 whole of the year, and 

 he is one of three birds 

 which charm us with 

 their melody during the 

 dreary winter, when the 

 Throstle and Lark are 

 silent and all the migra- 

 tory birds have left us, to 

 sojourn in warmer clim- 

 ates. He appears to be 

 gregarious in the months 



of August and September." "This bird, though usually known by the 

 name of the Misseltoe Thrush in many parts of England, is invariably 

 called the Stormcock by all the lower orders in our neighborhood: 

 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. 



It is very fond of the berries of the misseltoe, but when they fail 

 it turns its attention to those of the mountain. ash, which are almost 

 certain to attract this beautiful and powerful songster. In the sum- 

 mer it devours all kinds of garden-fruits, especially cherries and 

 raspberries. 



During the breeding season it is very pugnacious, attacking and 

 driving away not only small birds, but the Crow, the Magpie, or eveo 

 the prowling Cat. The nest is very large, almost as large as a " wide- 

 awake" hat, is always built in a tree, and contains about five reddis}i 

 •potted eggs. The length of the bird is eleven inches. 



MIS8ELT0E-TBRUSH. 



