20 THE BIRDS OF DORSET. 



FaM. TuEDIDiE. 

 MISSEL-THRUSH. Turdus visdvonis, L. 



Yarrell, i. p. 258 ; Harting, p. 11 ; Dresser, ii, p. 3 ; Seehohm, 

 i. p. 207 ; Ibis List, p. i ; Pultenei/s List, p. 10. 



The Missel-Thrush, although now so common, was 

 extremely scarce at the end of the last century ; so 

 much so, that Bewick had some difficulty in procuring 

 a specimen. His description in the edition of 1804 

 is without a figure. 



SONG -THRUSH. Turdus miisicus, L. 



Yarrell, i. p. 264 ; Harting, p. 11 ; Dresser, ii. p. 19 ; Seehohm, i. 

 p. 213 ; Ibis List, p. 2. 



The Song-Thrush, although a resident, is partially 

 migratory in the autumn. Sportsmen when beating 

 the turnip-fields in October and the beginning of 

 November see them rising at every few yards ; and 

 although in considerable numbers, they do not appear 

 to be gregarious, but rise singly as they are disturbed. 

 They migrate during the night, and during the day 

 rest under the turnip-leaves for food and shelter. 

 In the exceptionally dry summer of 1885, the in- 

 numerable broken shells of snails under the walls 

 and on the waysides testified to the destructive power 

 of the Thrush upon land mollusks when deprived of 

 their ordinary food. 



