List of Birds Examined. 



In the following summaries of the food, where a query follows 

 a number in the columns headed "Number occurred," the figures 

 are only approximately correct, in all cases where any doubt 

 existed the lower figure was taken. 



Further, much of the material scheduled under " Neutral " ie 

 really " Injurious," such as the seeds of weeds. 



MISSEL THRUSH. 



Turdus viscivorus, Linn. 



This bird, like many members of its family, has largely 

 increased in numbers during the past quarter of a century. 



Archibald (3) writing in 1893, says: "This fine thrush has 

 rendered itself unpopular in some districts by exhibiting too great 

 a partiality for fruit. Its food, however, consists largely of wild 

 cherries, and the berries of the yew, hawthorn, holly, service-tree, 

 mountain-ash, juniper, and ivy ; whilst its fondness for the berries 

 of the mistletoe has gained for it the name by which it is generally 

 known. Like other members of its family, it renders good service 

 by devouring slugs and the destructive larvae of beetles and moths. 

 Earthworms also form a considerable portion of its sustenance." 



Hooper (68) states : " In Kent it is considered one of the worst 

 birds with fruit, specially troublesome with cherries and soft fruit ; 

 it persistently eats pears, apples, plums, damsons, and many kinds 

 of berries; it is fond of black currants, which most birds avoid." 



Smith (105) writes: "Thrushes, I think, are almost as bad as 

 blackbirds. They do not eat figs, and are not so troublesome with 

 the apples, but all other fruit they are as partial to as the black- 

 bird. The thrush is partially migratory, going south as the weather 

 gets winterly. If the North and Midlands have much snow they 



