156 SHOOTING. 



The throstle or thrush is not properly migratory in this country, 

 it is nevertheless more numerous in particular places at some part 

 of the year than at others ; and this circumstance has given rise to 

 the idea that they move, to a certain extent, from one place to 

 another. The female builds lier nest generally in hushes ; the 

 hazel, the thorn, and sometunes on the branches of trees. It is 

 composed pi dried grass, cenieuted together by clayey matter. 

 Buffon maintains that these birds are migratory in Erance, and ap- 

 pear in the soutli section of the kingdom about the end of Sep- 

 tember, and before either the redwing or fieldfare are seen. The 

 female bird has not such a brilliant plumage as the male ; the 

 colours and spots are more blended and faint in the former than in 

 the latter. 



T/ie Missel Thrush [Tiirdus Viscivorus, Linn.). — This bird is about 

 eleven inches long. The bill is of a dusky liue, and the base of it 

 yellow. The eyes are hazel. The head, back, and lesser coverts 

 of the wings are of a deep olive colour', and the latter tipped with 

 white • though we have seen the white, in some instances, much 

 more brilliant than in others. The lower portion of the back or 

 rump is tinged with yellow ; and the cheeks are of a yellowish 

 wliite, spotted with brown; and_ so likewise are the belly and 

 breast. The quills are brown, fringed with pale edges, and the 

 tail^ feathers are the same, the tlnee outermost bemg tipped with 

 white. Thelegsare yellow, and the claws are black. 



The female builds her nest in bushes or low trees, and lays four 

 or lU'C eggs, of a greenish colour, marked, sometimes irregularly, 

 with red spots. Its nest is made of moss, leaves, and small fibres 

 of twigs, and lined inside with dry grass. It commences early in 

 the year to sing, and this too when the weather is stormy and unge- 

 nial ;_ and this cncumstance has induced the country people, in many 

 districts in England, tp call it the storm cock. It feeds on various 

 kinds of berries, particularly those of the mistletoe, of which bird- 

 lime is made. Hence the notion which formerly prevailed that the 

 plant of this name was only propagated by the seed which passed 

 tlnrough the digestive organs of this bird, and the origin of the 

 phrase, Turdtis malum sihi cacat. It lLl<;ewise feeds on caterpillars 

 and various kinds of insects, on which it chiefly rears its young. 

 It is a natiye of almost every country in Europe, and in some sec- 

 tions of it is said to be migratory. It remains in England the en- 

 tire year, and has frequently two broods in the season. 



The Lark (Alauda Arvensis, Linn.)- Tliis interesting bird 

 often falls a prey to the shooting tyro. We feel some degree of 

 pleasure at the thought of never having fired a shot at one. 

 "The daisied lea he loves, where turfs of grass 

 Luxuriant crowns the ridge; there, with his mate, 

 He founds his lowly house of withered herbs 

 And coarsest spear-grass; next, the inner work 

 With finer and still finer fibres lays, 

 Hounding it curious with his speckled breast." 



