MISSEL THRUSH. 121 



nests, so as to form small flocks. As an instance of the early 

 flocking of Missel Thrushes I may mention that on the 25th 

 of June 1837, I saw seventeen of them flying over the fields 

 in the evening, and settling on some tall trees, in the neighbour- 

 hood of Craigmillar Castle, near Edinburgh. By the middle 

 of September, large flocks are generally met with, and during 

 that month and the following, they eat great quantities of the 

 berries of the Mountain Ash and Service Tree. Even in the 

 breeding season, they are shy, although then it is not so difficult 

 to approach them when in the fields, and still less so if you have 

 discovered their nest. They defend their eggs and young with 

 great courage, drive off the Magpie and other suspected birds, 

 and even assail the Sparrow Hawk, although not always with 

 success. 



The food of the JMissel Thrush consists, in summer, of earth- 

 worms, larva?, gooseberries, rasps, and insects ; in autumn of 

 geans or wild cherries, rowans, moor berries, worms and snails ; 

 in winter and spring, of haws, snails, worms, and especially seeds 

 of oats, wheat, and other plants. In the latter seasons, it keeps 

 in the open fields, very seldom betaking itself to gardens, unless 

 during a protracted snow-storm, when it searches the hollies 

 and hedges for berries, and drives off" the other Thrushes which 

 may betake themselves to the same places. 



I have not met with it in the Hebrides, or even in the northern 

 division of Scotland. In the middle division of that country 

 it is very rare, although I have seen it there, even among the 

 Grampians. In the southern parts, on the contrary, it is not 

 uncommon, whether in the cultivated districts or among the 

 central hills. On the Slst August 1832, I observed a large 

 flock near Peebles, eating the berries of Sorbus aucuparia ; 

 and on the 2d September met with seven near the summit of 

 one of the Yarrow Hills. On the same excursion I found them 

 here and there in the counties of Selkirk and Peebles, and was 

 informed that they commit great havock among the gooseberries 

 in the gardens around Selkirk. At Giffbrd and Haddington, 

 in East Lothian ; Roslyn, Edinburgh, Colinton, and other 

 places in Mid-Lothian ; and generally in the wooded parts of 

 this division, they are seen here and there in pairs during 



