232 SYNOPSIS AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX 
cup-shaped (inside) lined with mud, grasses and fibres. 
Over this is a roof of strong thorny sticks and mud, with 
a hole for entrance, just large enough for the bird.  Sztw- 
ated : Generally high in trees, or hedges, but sometimes 
(rarely) low. Generally inaccessible from its elevation, 
or in very thick-set branches. Second nests: Probably 
not. Eggs: Pale dull bluish-white, spotted ash grey 
and greenish-brown. Six or seven. 
8 MISSED TBRUsE 
(Pages 160-5) 
Turdus viscivorus. Lat., turdus, a thrush. Vzscum, 
the mistletoe, and vovo, I eat. The birds are fond of all 
sorts of berries. It was once thought that the berries 
of the mistletoe would not germinate unless the bird 
had swallowed and voided them! Syn. : Storm-thrush, 
storm-cock, as the male loves to sing in stormy and wet 
weather, even in the winter (singing most from mid- 
winter to nesting-time, but not during the breeding 
season) perched on some high branch swaying in the 
wind. General description, size and plumage: A bird 
much like the common song thrush in shape and plum- 
age, but larger, length, Ir inches (song thrush, 9g 
inches). It is the largest of our thrushes, and with the 
black spots on the breast larger and more distinct. 
It will generally be found near some berry-bearing bushes 
or trees when the berries are ripe. At other times 
