SEARCHING FOR FOOD. 



139 



resident in Britain, through which it is generally diffused. 

 Not all, however, which are seen here in the winter remain 

 through the year ; for some flocks arrive in October, on 

 a visit, as it would appear, to their British friends, and 

 depart again in May, so that Missel Thrushes are most 



MISSEL THRUSH. 



plentiful here during the inclement season. They fly about 

 in little parties, seldom exceeding twenty in number, and 

 search for worms, larvae, and seeds in the open fields, 

 especially those which have been recently ploughed. ' On 

 alighting,' says Macgillivray, i the bird stands for some time 

 with the body and tail inclined, the head raised, the wings 

 slightly drooping. Should it descry symptoms of danger, 

 it alarms its companions by a low, harsh scream, when they 

 all remain attentive for awhile, and fly off, or should they 

 judge themselves safe, commence their search, in prose- 

 cuting which they scatter about more than the Fieldfares 

 or Redwings. If you watch the motions of one, you see it 

 hop smartly along, stop to pick up an object, then resume 

 the attitude of observation, hop forward, dig up a worm, 

 break it in pieces, and swallow it; then start again, and 

 thus continue until disturbed, or put to flight. Mudie 

 gives us the following account of the habits of this bird : 



