74 



MERULTD.^. 



holly, or holm ; the title " Screech " being given to it 

 from its jarring note when angry or alarmed, which closely 

 resembles the noise made by passing the finger-nail rapidly 

 along the teeth of a comb. Its French name, " Draine," and 

 German, " Schnarre," seem to be descriptive of the same 

 harsh "c/«trr." In Wales, it has from its quarrelsome 

 habits acquired the name of Penn y llwyn, or, master of 

 the coppice. Another of its names, Throstle Cock, ex- 

 presses its aUiance with the Thrushes, and its daring 

 nature ; and Storm Cock, which Waterton informs us is 



THE MISSEL THRUSH. 



]tS 



delights in 



popular name in Yorkshire, indicates "not that it 

 storms more than in fine weather, but that 

 nature has taught it to pour forth its melody at a time of 

 the year when the bleak winds of winter roar through the 

 leafless trees." The song of the Missel Thrush is loud, 

 wild, and musical, Waterton calls it " plaintive," Knapp, 

 " harsh, and untuneful." I must confess that I agree with 



