32 RURAL BIRD LIFE. 



of the short winter's day, and when the sun has been 

 sinking" behind the western hills in tints of the finest 

 lustre. How pleasantly his notes greet the ear amid the 

 shrieking of the wind and the driving snow, or when in 

 a calm and lucid interval of genial weather we hear him 

 sing, if possible, more richly than before. His song re- 

 minds us of a coming season when the now dreary land- 

 scape will be clothed in a blooming garb befitting the 

 vernal year — of the sc^ng of the Blackbird and Thrush 

 combined with that of the Lark, and other host of tune- 

 ful throats which usher in that lovely season. Should 

 you disturb the Missel-thrush when singing he usually 

 drops silently down and awaits your departure, though 

 sometimes he merely retires to a neighbouring tree and 

 warbles as sweetly as before. You will also find that 

 you can approach him much closer when he is singing 

 than at any other time, save in the breeding season, a 

 fact, by the way, found in all or nearly all singing birds. 

 The call notes, or alarm notes, of the Missel-thrush are 

 extremely harsh and discordant. You may form a pretty 

 correct idea of them in the same manner as you would 

 imitate the Landrail's call. 



The Missel-thrush, as a rule, flies much higher 

 through the heavens than the Thrush or Blackbird. 

 They are also capable of flying with great rapidity, and 

 also have considerable command over themselves in the 

 air : witness their motions round the head of an intruder 

 when in the neighbourhood of their nest. The Missel- 

 thrush is a decided inhabitant of trees and shrubs, save 

 when in search of food, which for eight months in the 

 year is found chiefly on the ground, except in fruit time. 

 The remaining four months he is for the most part a berry 

 feeder, though, if the weather be mild and open, we find 

 him on the grass land in company with his congeners. 



