12 THE MISSEL THRUSH. 



and return in spring. It has been frequently observed 

 on migration at the lighthouses on the coasts of England 

 and Scotland.^ The late Mr. Carr-Ellison of Dunston 

 Hill says : " It is pretty certain that the young of our 

 English Missel Thrushes migrate largely into France, as 

 there is a great accession of the species there in Octo- 

 ber and November. Their annual arrival is hailed by 

 the bird-catchers, and by the epicures, with especial 

 interest. A French cook will send up a dish of Missel 

 Thrushes and Eed wings in an irresistible form to the 

 best tables, each bird enveloped in some delicate jelly of 

 pearly hue." " 



They suffered greatly, as did also Fieldfares, Eedwings, 

 and Song Thrushes, during the very severe frosts and 

 snow-storms which occurred in the winters of 1874-75, 

 1878-79, 1879-80, and 1880-81. Mr. Hardy, Oldcambus, 

 writing under date December 11th, 1874, says : " The great 

 snow-storm had begun, but there was less snow here than 

 in most places. December Idtk — Many Fieldfares, Eed- 

 wings, and Missel Thrushes continued, for several days after 

 this, to frequent the sea-banks at Siccar, where these were 

 exposed to the melting influence of the sun's forenoon rays ; 

 working with all their might in digging at the softened 

 clay, and in turning up old sheep-dung to procure insect 

 food. December 28th. — Starlings fewer, as well as the Thrush 

 kind. Some may have shifted place, but several died of 

 hunger and cold ; and of such I noted among the fallen, 

 although they were not numerous. Missel Thrushes, Song 

 Thrushes, and Fieldfares." ^ 



Eeferring to my own notes, I find that, during the long 

 continuance of the terribly severe weather in December 



» Hist. Ber. Nat. Club, vol. vii. pp. 282, 283. 

 " See Reports on the Migration of Birds, 1879-86. 

 3 Hist. Ber. iVat. Club, vol. v. p. 442. 



