THE MISSEL Til RUSH 219 



in the soutliorn and midland counties. In AVales it is abundant, and 

 is known by tlio namo of " Penn y Ilwi/n," or "Master of the Coppice." 

 In Ireland it is also common, but in Scotland is rarely met with except 

 in the southern parts. On the European continent it is found in 

 Scandinavia, Russia, Germany, France, and Italy. 



These Thrushes are generally to be met with in woodland districts, 

 or along the borders of fields; they fly in loose flocks of about twenty 

 in number, uttering a kind of low scream at intervals as they proceed. 

 ^Vllen a recently ploughed field or other desirable feeding place is 

 found, they alight rather suddenly, and disperse over its surface in 

 search for worms, larva), or seeds. While thus engaged they continue 

 extremely alert and wary, "the moment one is alarmed it emits a low 

 churr, which is repeated by the rest, when they either fly to the ti-oes 

 in the neighbourhood, or flit to a distant field.'" Their flight is rapid 

 and undulated, but rather clumsy and uneven. 



Towards the end of March the flocks break up, and about the middle 

 of the following month partners are selected, and building operations 

 commenced. The nest is usually placed in the fork of the branch of 

 a tree in a wood, garden, or orchard, very frequently in an apple tree 

 in the latter. It is a loose structure of about four inches and a half 

 in diameter, and is composed of twigs, dry grass, moss, leaves, and 

 lichens, coated internally with a layer of mud, and lined with finer 

 grass, roots, and moss. The same tree is often returned to year after 

 year, and the same nest has been known to be used twice in a season. 

 The eggs are from three to five in number, of a greenish or reddish 

 white colour, spotted irregularly with reddish brown or purple red. 

 Two broods are produced in the season. The young are fed on insects, 

 worms, or snails. Mr. Weir watched a pair of old birds bring food 

 of this kind to their ofi'spring sixty-six times during the course of a 

 day. 



The song of the Missel Thrush, which somewhat resembles that of 

 the Blackbird, but is rather harsher and not so rich, may be heard 

 very early in the year, sometimes even in February. Often, spite of 

 wind, rain, and storm, this bird will pour forth his strain from the 

 top of some lofty oak, beech, or fir tree. 



The title of "Master of the Coppice," which we have mentioned as 

 applied to this bird in Wales, is well deserved, for he is of a very 

 bold and quarrelsome disposition, especially during the breeding season, 

 driving all smaller birds from his haunts, and even ferociously attacking 

 those of his own size. He has a bad reputation, too, for destroying 

 yonng birds and eggs of other species. On one occasion Mr. Weir 

 saw a Missel Thrush flying off with a young Hedge Sparrow in its 



