328 THE MISSEL THRUSH. 



The colour of the Mocking-bird is a dull brown, with a decided ashen tinge. The 

 quill-feathers of the wings are white towards their base, and brown-black towards their 

 extremities, the two central feathers of the tail are dark browinsh-black, the two externals 

 are white, and the remainder are white on their inner webs. The chin, throat, and 

 whole of the under part of the body are very pale brown, inclining to grey. As has 

 already been mentioned, the pure white of the wings and the blacker hue of the body 

 afford sufficient indications of the male bird, while the tail is nearly equally white in 

 both sexes. The length of the adult Mocking-bird is about nine inches. 



The genus in which the true Thrushes are placed is one of the largest yet established, 

 containing nearly one hundred and twenty accredited species, which are found in 

 almost all quarters of the globe. In England they are well represented by several 

 familiar birds, together with one or two which, although they are not unfrequently found 

 within our shores, are but little known to the general public. 



The first example of this group is the Missel Thrush, one of the largest and 

 handsomest of the species. 



It is one of our resident birds, and on account of its great size, its combative nature, 

 its brightly feathered breast ,its ricli voice, and gregarious habits, is one of the best known 

 of the British birds. About the beginning of April the Missel Thrush sets about its 

 nest, and in general builds a large, weighty edifice, that can be seen through the leafless 

 bushes from a great distance. Sometimes, however, the nest is concealed with the greatest 

 care, and I cannot but think that in the latter case it is the work of some old bird, who 

 has leamt caution through bitter e.xperience. 



The materials of which the nest is composed are the most heterogeneous that can be 

 imagined. Every substance that can be woven into a nest is pressed into the service. 

 Moss, hay, straw, dead leaves, and grasses, are among the ruling substances that are 

 employed for the purpose, and the bird often adds manufactured products, such as scraps 

 of rag, paper or shavings. I once found one of these nests that was ingeniously placed 

 in the crown of an old hat that had evidently been flung into the tree by some traveller. 

 At first, it hardly looked like a nest, but there were a few bits of grass lying over the 

 brim that had a very suspicious aspect, and on climbing the tree, the old hat was proved 

 to have been made the basis of a warm nest, with the proper complement of eggs. As the 

 nest is so conspicuous, and built so early in the season, the eggs of the Missel Thrush 

 generally form, together with those of the hedge accentor, the first-fruits of a nesting 

 expedition. 



The nest, although so roughly made on the exterior, is the result of very careful work- 

 manship. The outside walls are made of moss and hay, but there is a fine lining of mud, 

 which, when dry, affords a very perfect resting-place for the eggs. The mud wall 

 is again lined with soft grasses, so that the eggs and young have a warm lied whereon 

 to repose. 



At all times a tolerably quarrelsome bird, the Missel Thrush becomes doubly combative 

 at the breeding season, boldly attacking and driving away birds of greater size and 

 strength by the mere force of indomitable courage. Mr. Thompson has given so excellent 

 an account of several of such combats, that I can but quote his words. 



" May it not be in some degree to counterbalance the danger to which its nest is 

 subjected from the exposed site (selected according to the dictates of nature) that this 

 bird is endued with the extraordinary courage and perseverance manifested in its defence ? 

 Often have I seen a pair of these birds driving off magpies and occasionally fighting 

 against four of them. The pair to which the first-mentioned nest belonged, attacked a 

 kestrel which appeared in their neighbourhood when the young birds were out, altliough 

 probably without any felonious intent upon them. One of these thrushes struck the hawk 

 several times and made as many more attempts to do so, but in vain, as the latter, by 

 suddenly rising in the air, escaped the coming blow. This pair of birds followed the 

 kestrel for a great way, until they were lost to our sight in the distance. 



