186 



THE NATURAL HISTORY 



[LETT. 



and are thereby very serviceable iu gardens. Missel-thrushes 

 do not destroy the fruit in gardens like the other species of 

 turdi, but feed on the berries of mistletoe, and in the spring on 

 ivy-berries, which then begin to ripen. 1 In the summer, when 

 their young become fledged, they leave neighbourhoods, and 

 retire to sheep-walks and wild commons. This species of 

 thrush, though wild at other times, delights to build near 

 houses, and in frequented walks and gardens.] 



In the season of nidification the wildest birds are compara- 

 tively tame. Thus the ring-dove breeds in my fields, though 

 they are continually frequented ; and the missel-thrush, though 



THKUSHS EtiO. 



most shy and wild in the autumn and winter, builds in my 

 garden close to a walk where people are passing all day long. 



Wall-fruit abounds with me this year ; but my grapes, that 

 used to be forward and good, are at present backward beyond 

 all precedent: and this is not the worst of the story; for 

 the same ungenial weather, the same black cold solstice, has 

 injured the more necessary fruits of the earth, and discoloured 

 and blighted our wheat. The crop of hops promises to be very 

 large. 



1 In the very early part of this spring (1797) a bird of this species used 

 to sit every morning on the top of some very high elms close by my windows, 

 and delight me with its charming song, attracted thither, probably, by some 

 ripe ivy-berries that grew near the place. 



I have remarked something like the latter fact, for I remember many 

 years ago, seeing a pair of these birds fly up repeatedly and attack some 

 larger bird, which I suppose disturbed their nest in my orchard, uttering at 

 the same time violent shrieks. Since writing the above, I have seen more 

 than once a pair of these birds attack some magpies that had disturbed their 

 nest, with great violence and loud shrieks. MARKWICK. 



