THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 



Family TURDID^. Sub-Family TURDIN^E. 



Genus TURDUS. 



T. Viscivorus Missel-Thrush. 



The Missel-Thrush is a generally distributed 

 resident, breeding with equal freedom among the 

 heather-clad rocks at St. Bees, and in the orchards 

 of farmsteads ; remarkably familiar when nesting. 

 The resident birds gather into small parties in 

 September. Large flocks occasionally visit us on 

 migration, and we once saw a drove of a hundred 

 birds settle in Kingmoor wood to roost. 



At the close of the last century, this species 

 was scarce in Cumberland. Dr. Heysham had to go 

 to Kirklinton, a distance of nine miles, to examine 

 a nest of the Missel-Thrush in 1782, and carefully 

 describes the eggs. It was probably rare at that 

 time in the other northern counties, since it is said 

 that Bewick, living at Newcastle, found it difficult 

 to secure a specimen. (Tarrell, B. B., Vol. I, p. 261, 

 4th ed.) 



T. Musicus. Song-Thrush. 



The Song-Thrush is an abundant resident, but 

 no influx occurs in autumn, and many districts 

 are destitute of Sono'-Thrushes durins; the winter 

 months. Variation in the genus Turdus occurs less 



