THE THRUSH TRIBE. 



There are upwards of a hundred species of Thrushes 

 known, some of which are found in all quarters of the 

 globe. Many of them are migratory birds, and resort 

 to warmer climates in winter. They feed upon berries 

 and fruits, as well as insects. Many of our best 

 songsters belong to this tribe. 



The MISSEL THRUSH (Turdus viscivorus) is one of 

 the largest and handsomest of the species, and is some- 

 times kept in confinement, but he is too large for a 

 cage bird, and his song is very loud. This in his wild 

 state is generally heard in stormy weather, and in 

 consequence the Thrush is called " Storm Cock " and 

 " Screech Thrush," as well as " Holm Thrush " and 

 " Missel Thrush." Mudie accounts for the latter name 

 thus : " It is called the Missel Thrush because it 

 missels (soils) its toes with the acrid slimy juice of the 

 mistletoe-berries, of which it is very fond in the winter; 

 and the mistletoe erets its name because it soils the 



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toes of the bird." It feeds also upon holm-berries, and 

 the berries of the juniper and service-trees, as well as 

 upon worms and insects, with which it feeds its young. 



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