Missel-Thrush, or Stormcock. 



Turdus viscivorus. 



UPPER parts ash-brown ; under parts white, faintly tinged with 

 yellow, marked with numerous black spots; under wing-coverts 

 white ; three lateral tail feathers tipped with greyish white. 

 Length, eleven inches. 



The thrushes inhabiting the British Islands are six in number. 

 Of these, the missel-thrush and blackbird are resident throughout 

 the year; the song-thrush and ring-ouzel are summer visitors ; 

 the remaining two species redwing and fieldfare are winter 

 visitors. 



The missel or mistletoe thrush, or stormcock, is the largest, 

 exceeding the fieldfare, which comes next in size, by at least an 

 inch in length and two inches in spread of wings. This species 

 possesses in a marked degree all the characters that everywhere 

 distinguish the true thrushes, which are world- wide in their range. 

 Theirs is a modest colouring : olive-brown above, paler and spotted 

 below ; a loud and varied song, and harsh cry ; a statuesque figure ; 

 rapid, startled movements on the ground, with motionless intervals, 

 when the bird stands with head and beak much raised, in an atti- 

 tude denoting intense attention ; and, finally, a free, strong, undu- 

 lating flight. 



The missel-thrush inhabits almost the whole of the British 

 Islands, and is most abundant in Ireland. Throughout England 

 and Wales he is fairly common, less common in Scotland, and 

 becoming rarer the farther north we go. He is found in all woods 

 and plantations, but is most partial to wooded parks, orchards, and 

 gardens, which afford him food and shelter throughout the year. 



