Missel-Thrush, or Stormcock. 



Turdus viscivorus. 



Upper parts ash-brown; under parts white, faintly tinged with 

 yellow, marked with numerous black spots ; under wing- coverts 

 white ; three lateral tail feathers tipped with greyish white. 

 Length, eleven inches. 



There are six British thrushes. Of these the missel-thrush and 

 blackbird are residents throughout the year ; the song-thrush is also 

 found with us at all seasons, and is a winter songster, but many 

 birds migrate; the ring-ouzel is a summer visitor; the red-wing 

 and fieldfare are winter visitors. 



The missel or mistletoe thrush, or stormcock, is the largest, 

 exceeding the fieldfare, which comes next in size, by at least an 

 inch in length and two inches in spread of wings. This species 

 possesses in a marked degree all the characters that everywhere 

 distinguish the true thrushes, which are world-wide in their ranga. 

 Theirs is a modest colouring : — olive-brown above, paler and spotted 

 below ; a loud and varied song, and harsh cry ; a statuesque figure ; 

 rapid, startled movements on the ground, with motionless intervals, 

 when the bird stands with head and beak much raised, in an atti- 

 tude denoting intense attention ; and, finally, a free, strong, undu- 

 lating flight. 



The missel-thrush inhabits almost the whole of the British 

 Islands, and is most abundant in Ireland. Throughout England 

 and Wales he is fairly common, less common in Scotland, and 

 becoming rarer the farther north we go. He is found in all woods 

 and plantations, but is most partial to wooded parks, orchards, and 

 gardens, which afford him food and shelter throughout the year. 



