COMMON BRITISH BIRDS 



5' 



buff. Under parts yellowish-white with black spots 

 tail-feathers brown, with a white spot on the innei 

 web of all except the two centre ones, increasing in siz< 

 to the outer ones. 



Note. The Missel Thrush is one of the earlies< 

 songsters to begin, and certainly it is one of the first tc 

 cease singing, rarely continuing much after the middk 

 of April. From the habit of often singing during tht 

 rough weather in early spring, this bird is sometimes 

 called the Stormcock. Though the song consists merelj 

 of a short phrase or two repeated, it has a very distincl 

 charm of its own ; and, as the wild notes come fitfully tc 

 the ear during the gusts of a rough March wind, one feels 

 that the year is on the move, and though snow maj 

 linger under the hedgerows and on the distant hills 

 yet the coming of the spring will not much longer b 

 delayed. 



Besides the song the Missel Thrush has a harsh 

 scolding note uttered when attempting to drive away ar 

 intruder, be it Magpie, Cat, or even human being front" 

 the vicinity of its nest, or when, in winter, a swarm oJ 

 foreign immigrants in the shape of Fieldfares and Red- 

 wings make a raid on its favourite holly-bush or haw- 

 thorn. 



Distinguishing Feature. The large size, grey look 

 about the head, lighter brown of the lower back, and 

 white edging to the tail (showing up distinctly when 

 the tail-feathers are expanded during flight). Th 

 harsh grating alarm-note. 



Nest. Rather a rough structure of dried grass, wool, 

 &c., lined fine grass, usually in a tree. 



Eggs. Pale bluish or greenish-white with red-brown 

 and pale purplish spots. 



Haunts. Fields and orchards. 



THRUSH, SONG. (R. Thrushes.) 



Size. Smaller than Blackbird. 



Colour. Olive-brown above, throat and breast white 

 tinged with yellowish -brown, with black spots. Undei 

 the wings yellow. 



Note. One of the most charming of our songsters. 

 The song is heard from early spring until late summer. 

 It consists of a number of distinct notes, each note being 

 repeated several times, then a fresh one uttered in tk 

 same way. 



