MISSEL THRUSH. 125 



of which we treat is its principal disseminator. Montagu, 

 however, discredits the necessity of the seed's passing through 

 the body of a bird in order to fit it for germinating, and remarks 

 that although it may germinate after so passing, this is no 

 more wonderful than that corn should grow when voided whole 

 by a horse. " Such a preparation," he asserts, " is no more 

 necessary in the one case than the other, but may be con- 

 sidered as one of the methods nature takes to disperse the seeds 

 of various plants." Now, although I have opened many hun- 

 dreds of berry-eating and seed-eating birds, among which were 

 probably sixty or more Thrushes of various species, I have 

 never, but in two instances, which have been already men- 

 tioned, found an entire seed in the intestines. The gizzard of 

 the Thrushes is sufficiently powerful to grind into a paste 

 the seeds of any fruit which they might eat ; and I do not be- 

 lieve that nature ever uses this method of dispersing plants, 

 simply because no person has ever actually observed seeds to 

 germinate after being passed by birds, because seeds could 

 escape from the action of the stomach only in carnivorous or 

 piscivorous species, and by no means in frugivorous or grani- 

 vorous, whose gizzards act like millstones ; and, lastly, because 

 mere fancies ought on no account to be admitted as facts. 



As will be seen from the above account, this species presents 

 in its predatory habits, an affinity to the Shrikes, Jays, and 

 Magpies, and like other tyrants, is held in aversion by many 

 of the smaller birds, which sometimes pursue or hover about 

 it, as if it were a hawk. Its harsh screaming cry, when angry 

 or alarmed, is in accordance with its wild and savage temper, 

 which affords a complete contrast to the gentleness of the Song 

 Thrush. 



The Missel Thrush is apparently increasing with rapidity, 

 for, in places where fifteen years ago few or none were to be 

 seen, it is now pretty numerous. It is probable enough that 

 many come to us about the beginning of winter from more 

 northern countries ; but it would be difficult to ascertain 

 whether they really do so ; and the numbers seen in winter 

 and spring are not greater than might be expected from those 

 met with in summer and autumn. 



