BRITISH BIRDS AMENABLE TO CAPTIVITY IN 



GAGE OR AVIARY 



CHAPTER XXXVI 



FAMILY T U R D I D ^ 



THRUSHES AND THRUSH-LIKE BIRDS 



The Missel 

 Thrush. 



Timlm vhcivorus (lAnn.)—^ well-matured speci- 

 men of this species is the largest of the Thrush 

 family, being ten to twelve 

 iuehes in lenglli, and of more 

 massive build lliau the Song 

 and other Thruslu's. The general colour of its 

 plumage is ashy-brown above, lores and eyelids 

 white ; feathers below the eye and ear-coverts 

 ochreous-buff, the feathers ti])ped wilh black 

 and forming a line on the u])per ear-coverts; 

 cheeks, throat, and under surface of body clear 

 ochrcous-bufT, spotted with triangular lips to 

 the feathers, forming a line aliove and below 

 the checks; the spols on the throat are very 

 small and faint, those on the breast are bold 

 aiul increase in density towards Ihe Hanks. 

 The abdomen is bulTy- while. This ha[)|>y 

 blending of colour ami its coniiuandiu.L; size 

 make the Missel Thrush an atlraiti\e bint 

 for cxhiliition purposes. The larger Ihe better, 

 if combined with richness of colour and well- 

 defined marking. I'erfeet |>lumage. Iocs, and 

 feet, wilh steadiiu'ss, are all of \ital importance. 

 When free it is rather a shy bird, but wlieu 

 breeding does not scruple to approach I lie out- 

 skirts of l((wns. II usually builds in tlie toik 

 of a tree at varying heighls, an oiihard lie- 

 (piently being select ed. \Ve have had a pair 

 build in Ihe fork of a i)ear tree in our garden al 

 Peckham, close lo the house, and successfully 

 rear their biood, not displaying Ihe slightest 

 fear wlien we stood close by watiliiufi them 

 feeding their young. .Mr. IT. .1. Wilson, of West 

 Dulwich, even succeeded in gelling these birds 

 to breed in captivity, in a large shed in whieli 

 was inserted sonu' line mesh wire netting, lo 

 allow of plenty of light. They luiilt tlieir own 

 nesl in a shallow box in which fertile eggs were 

 laifl, tud <tid not lialcli. Mi'. Wilson also had 

 fertile eggs from this bird maled lo a Song 

 Thrush, but Ihey did not hatch, though the 

 hen Missel Thrush sat closely throughoiil llic 



i06 



whole period of inculrtition ; but when wild 

 Thrushes" and Rlaekbirds' eggs were taken and 

 |)laced under I lie hen Missel Thrushes they 

 hatched and successfully reared the broods. 



The song of the Missel Thrush consists of a 

 few notes only, which are uttered in a loud and 

 wild tone, mixed with a certain strain of 

 melancholy. I-"rom its habit of singing during or 

 preceding a storm from the topiuost branches 

 of a tree it has obtained in some dislricls the 

 name of the Slorin (^ock. The bird is also 

 known as Ihe "ITolm" Thrush, and ■•Screech" 

 Thrush, the latter name no doubt being derived 

 from the harsh " screech "-like note which it 

 utlers both when flying and perched. 



From its pugnacious habits and large size, 

 the Missel Thrush is not a <lesirable companion 

 in an aviary for smaller birds. IL will, how- 

 e\(r, thrive and keep in good j)lumage In a box- 

 shaped cage of 3 feet long, 18 inches or more 

 in dei>lh, with nol fewer Ihan two ])erches, 

 made of soft pine wood. If the cage is lofty 

 enough, say 2 ft. high, a third perch is an 

 ad\antage arranged thus .•. The bird then 

 gets a series of nice hops. The cage re([uires 

 coiistant cleaning, and jilenty of fiiitly sand on 

 the li(dtom. The food and water vessels 

 should be arranged on the outside of Ihe cage. 

 1 faml-reared, or young Missel Thrushes cai)lured 

 somi after tiiey can do for themselves, are best 

 for i)els, and lor exiubitiou piir]>oses. .\ nest 

 of young taken when the fealheis are almost 

 covering Ihe body are easily reared by hand, 

 on almost any insectivorous food nuxture, 

 siip])lemenled li\ a tittle finely ndnced hard 

 ticiiled egg. and the wluile made crumlily nu)ist 

 with new iiiill<. Sutliciiiit may lie made moist 

 al a time to last half a da\. lull il is iinicti lielter 

 prepared fresh I w ice or e\ m llirce times a day, 

 so that il is |)erfeelly sweel and good. The 

 young birds must be fed wilh this once every 

 Iniiir from early luorning until dusk, giving 



