MISSEL-THRUSH 



41 



birds sometimes occupying half an acre or more ground. They then 

 look very large and conspicuous, scattered over the green grass, 

 standing erect and motionless, or hopping about in their wild, 

 startled manner. These flocks diminish in number as the season 

 progresses, and finally break up about midwinter. 



In autmnn the missel-thrushes devour the yew-berries, and the 

 fruit of the rowan and service trees ; later in the year they feed on 

 the glutinous berries of the mistletoe, on haws and ivy-berries, and 

 other wild fruits ; but their food for the most part consists of earth- 

 worms, snails, grubs, and insects of all kinds. 



Throstle, or Song-Thrush. 



Turdus musicus. 



Fig. 18.— Sono-Thrush. ^ natural size. 



Upper parts olive-brown , throat white in the middle ; sides of 

 neck and under parts ochreous yellow spotted with dark brown ; 

 under wing-coverts pale orange -yellow. Length, nine inches. 



The protest and recommendation implied by the use of the first 

 name at the head of this article may be futile ; but it is impossible 



