MISSEL THRUSH. 123 



a friend, observed another Missel Thrush carrying a bird in its 

 bill to its nest, which was built in the cleft of a tall plane-tree, 

 within a few yards of my pigeon-house/'' 



Another very interesting communication, dated 5th January 

 1838, refers to the number of times which this species feeds 

 its young in the course of the day. " At the extremity of the 

 lowest branch of a spruce, within thirty-three yards of my 

 dwelling-house, about the middle of May 1837, a pair of Missel 

 Thrushes built their nest. In the erection of it they were 

 so exceedingly cunning, that although people were in the habit 

 of passing and repassing by it almost every hour in the day, it 

 was not discovered until the female had been sitting for a week 

 upon her eggs. From my drawing-room window, with an ex- 

 cellent perspective, on Wednesday morning the 14th of June, 

 I began to watch them whilst they were feeding three ripe 

 young ones. 



" At twenty minutes past four o''clock they commenced the 

 labours of the day. From that time until five o'clock they fed 

 their young only five times ; from five to six o'clock three times ; 

 from six to seven o'clock six times ; from seven to eight o'clock 

 twelve times ; from eight to nine o'clock six times ; from nine 

 to ten o'clock four times ; from ten to eleven o'clock five 

 times ; from eleven to twelve o'clock four times ; from twelve 

 to one o'clock three times ; from one to two o'clock three 

 times ; from two to three o'clock three times ; from three to 

 four o'clock two times ; from four to five o'clock two times ; 

 from five to six o'clock two times ; from six to seven o'clock 

 five times ; and from seven to eight o'clock only once. During 

 this last hour it rained very heavily, and there was a good 

 deal of very loud thunder. At twenty minutes past eight 

 o'clock they ceased from their operations, having fed their brood 

 only sixty-six times during the day. 



" To their young they brought in each time several large 

 worms and snails. Before they did so, however, they generally 

 alighted upon two or three trees, remaining some seconds upon 

 each of them, and looking around with the greatest jealousy 

 and circumspection. In the defence of their brood they were 

 very bold, for, no sooner did a Magpie make its appearance 



