4 BRITISH BIRDS. WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 



The Missel Thrush may be met with in almost any locality where trees 

 are to be found, in woods, coppices, plantations, parks, pleasure-grounds, 

 shrubberies, large gardens and orchards; in such places it makes its home and 

 brings up its family. The nest is frequently built either in the fork of a 

 branch or on the top of a strong horizontal bough, but perhaps the favourite 

 site is in the central hollow, formed by the branching off of the lichen-covered 

 boughs of some old apple tree. In the experience of the writer it is rare to 

 find this nest either in a very lofty or lowly position, but on one occasion he 

 saw it in a forked branch near the top of a tall elm tree in Hyde Park ; whilst, 

 on the other hand, the late Mr. E. T. Booth once observed it in a small 

 stunted bush within three feet of the ground. Instances of this bird building 

 in bushes are, however, extremely rare. Most nests will be found at an altitude 

 of from ten to fifteen feet. 



The structure of the nest of the Missel Thrush is very solid, not un- 

 like that of the Blackbird. It is frequently placed upon a foundation of mud, 

 sheep's wool and twigs. The outer walls are usually formed of twigs, roots, 

 straws, and grasses, sometimes interwoven with wool and coarse moss; within 

 this is a lining of mud or clay, brought in pellets and mixed with grass or 

 roots. The inner lining is composed of finer grass, roots, and sometimes a 

 little moss. When lichens abound on the tree where the nest is situated a 

 few pieces are occasionally used to ornament the exterior, but one can hardly 

 suppose that a bird which places its nest almost invariably in a conspicuous 

 position, would make this addition with a view to concealment, although, by 

 rendering the outer walls of its domicile more like the branch on which it 

 rests, this result is, in a measure obtained. 



The number of eggs laid by the Missel Thrush varies from three to five, 

 but four is the usual number. The colouring is rather suggestive of those 

 of the Chaffinch, the ground colour being either pale greenish blue, yellowish 

 green, or brownish flesh tinted, boldly speckled, spotted and often blotched 

 with deep chocolate brown, and showing pearl grey or lavender underlying 

 spots; in size they correspond very nearly with those of the Blackbird, 

 but as regards their outline they more often give one the impression of being 

 widest near the centre, than the eggs of that species. 



The pairing time of the Missel Thrush is early in February, and at this 

 season, like most birds, they are exceedingly quarrelsome; the first nest is 

 occasionally commenced before the end of the same month, but only in the 

 South of England, where the bird is generally double-brooded; in my own 

 experience its nidification extends from March to May, April being the month when 



