THE MISSEL THRUSH. 



and as late as the end of June in the 

 Highlands of Scotland, and have found 

 its nest and eggs from the end of Feb- 

 ruary until the middle of June. 



Although by no means a first-class 

 melodist, the Storm Cock has some very 

 sweet notes, and the unpleasant climatic 

 conditions under which he frequently 

 delivers them seem to enhance their 

 value. I have often listened to him, 

 brave bird ! whilst he was swaying to 

 and fro on the topmost branch of some 

 wind-swept tree, and I could only catch 

 a note here and there, the rest being 

 carried away on a chord of the storm. 



Few of our poets have given the Missel 

 Thrush any attention whatever in their 

 verse, but one has done it justice in the 

 following lines : 



"Whilst thou! the leader of the band, 

 Fearless salut'st the opening year, 



Nor stay'st till blow the breezes bland 

 That bid the tender leaves appear ; 



But on some towering elm or pine 

 Waving aloft thy dauntless wing 

 Thou joy'st thy love notes wild to sing." 



This species sometimes imitates the 

 notes of other birds, but not nearly to 

 the same extent as its commoner rela- 

 tive, the Song Thrush, and renders them 

 in 



