MISSEL THRUSH. 27 



holly, and ivy form the staple food of this bird, to which 

 it adds worms, slugs, snails, and beetles, with occa- 

 sionally a little grain. It is credited also with some 

 little devotion at times to garden fruit, and, more 

 culpable still, is believed occasionally to prey upon 

 young birds. 



That the services of the Missel Thrush to the 

 gardener are by no means small, may be inferred from 

 the fact that to a nest of three young ones sixty-six 

 journeys were counted by Mr. Weir during the day, the 

 birds bringing snails and slugs on each occasion. 



The hoarse "grakle"-like note of the Missel Thrush 

 is much more frequently heard than his song, which 

 consists of five notes only, said by the author of Echoes 

 from the Counties, to resemble the words "d-e-a-r 

 d-e-a-r d-e-a-r d-e-a-r d-e-a-r." I have, however, 

 heard a Missel Thrush whose song was, "Ho, he, ho, hee, 

 ho," repeatedly uttered, in a loud, wild, whistling tone. 

 The song is more likely to be confounded with that of 

 the Blackbird than that of the Song Thrush ; its same- 

 ness will, however, lead to its speedy detection. The 

 harsh, grating call-note resembles somewhat the sound 

 of a child's rattle, and also a note frequently uttered by 

 the Wren, or the winding-up of an old-fashioned clock. 



From its habit of singing in stormy weather, the 

 Missel Thrush gets its familiar name of " Storm Cock." 

 The author of Echoes from the Counties thus describes 

 this habit : 



" One of the very first to herald the soothe season is 

 the gallant Storm Cock, largest and most stout-hearted 

 of our song birds. Long before his cousins-german the 

 Feldtfare and the Vindedrossel have set sail for their 



