MISSEL-THRUSH. 127 



Family TURDID.E. Genus TURDUS. 



Sub-family TURDIN^E. 



MISSEL-THRUSH. 



TURDUS VISCIVORUS, Linnaeus. 

 Double Brooded. Breeding season, February to July. 



BRITISH BREEDING AREA: The Missel-Thrush is 

 widely distributed throughout the wooded districts of 

 the British Islands, breeding as far north as the Orkneys, 

 and in many of the Hebrides. A hundred years ago the 

 Missel-Thrush appears to have been unknown in Ireland, 

 but it is now widely dispersed and increasing. This 

 species has also considerably extended its area in 

 Scotland, following the planting of trees. I am of 

 opinion that this Thrush breeds more abundantly in the 

 northern counties of England than in the southern and 

 south-western counties. 



BREEDING HABITS: A marked migration of this 

 species takes place in many of the northern and more 

 exposed districts. The haunts of this fine Thrush are 

 principally in well-timbered districts, woods, plantations, 

 coppices, orchards, parks, pleasure-grounds, and farm 

 lands where trees are common. In moorland districts 

 it frequents the alder- and birch-fringed streams, and 

 the larch and fir woods. The Missel-Thrush pairs very 

 early in the year, and frequents a locality for weeks 

 before nest-building commences. The nest is usually 

 made at some considerable elevation, and is never seen 

 in such lowly sites as that of the Song Thrush or the 

 Blackbird. Sometimes several nests may be found 

 within a very small area, but no social instincts are 

 manifested during the breeding season. The nest is 

 placed in a fork of the branches, often on a branch close 

 to the stem, and rarely amongst the more slender twigs. 



