THE MISSEL THRUSH. 



in such an undernote that they are diffi- 

 cult to hear on account of the singer not 

 allowing the listener to approach very 

 closely. 



The call note is a harsh, rattling 

 kind of cry, which, lengthened a little, 

 and uttered with greater vehemence, 

 becomes the alarm. 



Although shy during the greater part 

 of the year, this bird grows much bolder 

 during the breeding season. I have 

 known it build in a fruit tree within 

 a few yards of the front door of a 

 farmhouse, and have seen it attack a 

 stuffed owl which had been placed near 

 its nest, containing young ones, and 

 knock it clean out of the tree. 



