MISSEL THRUSH. 119 



slightly drooping. Should it descry symptoms of danger, it 

 alarms its companions by a low harsh scream, when they all 

 remain attentive for a while, and fly off, or should they judge 

 themselves safe, commence their search, in prosecuting which 

 they scatter about more than the Fieldfares or Redwings. If 

 you watch the motions of one, you see it hop smartly along, 

 stop to pick up an object, then resume the attitude of attention, 

 hop forward, dig up a worm, break it to pieces, and swallow 

 it, then stand again, and thus continue until satiated or put to 

 flight. In this manner, which is precisely that of the Field- 

 fare and Common Thrush, they continue feeding for hours, un- 

 less disturbed, generally keeping at a considerable distance from 

 each other, so that two can very seldom be shot at once. They 

 are extremely vigilant, and the moment one is alarmed it emits a 

 low churr^ which is repeated by the rest, when they either fly 

 to the trees in the neighbourhood, or flit to a distant field. In 

 an open place, they hardly consider themselves safe at the dis- 

 tance of two hundred yards ; and although they remain while a 

 person passes them, they fly off" if he stands to watch them. 

 When perched on trees they seldom allow a nearer approach 

 than a hundred yards. If they are feeding near a low wall, 

 you may occasionally obtain a shot by going to the place and 

 suddenly starting up, but you have little chance of catching 

 them unawares by slowly raising your head and gun between 

 the stones. I once shot a fine specimen in a field near Edin- 

 burgh, through a hole at the bottom of a wall, just as, having 

 observed me, it was about to fly off. 



The Missel Thrush, during winter and spring, is thus more 

 vigilant and suspicious than even the Fieldfare, and, for this 

 reason, as well as because it is much rarer, is seldom shot. It 

 sometimes associates with that species in the fields; but rarely 

 flies with it. Its flight, which is rather heavy, is performed 

 by a series of flappings, with short intervals of cessation, like 

 that of the Fieldfare, and has very little undulation. On occa- 

 sion, however, it becomes rapid ; and, when at full speed, a 

 Missel Thrush bears a considerable resemblance to a Sparrow- 

 Hawk or Merlin ; and small birds are sometimes seen pur- 

 suing it, as they are wont to fly after a bird of prey. It is 



