OI< NATURE. 205 



THRUSHES. 



Thrushes during long droughts are of 

 great service in hunting out shell snails, 

 which they pull in pieces for their young, 

 and are thereby very serviceable in gar- 

 dens. Missel thrushes do not destroy the 

 fruit in gardens like the other species of 

 turdi, but feed on the berries, of misseltoe, 

 and in the Spring on ivy berries, which 

 then begin to ripen. In the Summer, when 

 their young become fledged, they leave 

 neighbourhoods, and retire to sheep-walks 

 and wild commons. 



The magpies, when they have young, 

 destroy the broods of missel thrushes, 

 though the dams are fierce birds, and fight 

 boldly in defence of their nests. It is pro- 

 bably to avoid such insults, that this species 

 of thrush, though wild at other times, de- 

 lights to build near houses, and in fre- 

 quented walks and gardens. WHITE. 



