74 



MERULTD.E. 



holly, or liolm ; tlie 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 '■'■ cliiirrr 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 alliance with the Thrushes, and its daring 

 nature ; and Storm Cock, which Waterton informs us is 



THE MISSEL THRUSn. 



its popular name in Yorkshire, indicates '• not that it 

 delights in 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 Tlirush is loud, 

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

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



