COMMON THRUSH. 33 



of the small cascade. The eggs are five or six in number, and per- 

 fectly, purely white. A sad enemy to fish spawn I fear my little 

 white-breasted friend is. I never yet cared to shoot one, I love 

 them so well. But when there are half-a-dozen small but very 

 hungry Dipper-mouths to be fed, I fear much consumption of 

 fishes' food, as well as fishes' eggs, takes place. It is able to 

 walk, though with much effort, under water, as well as dive and 

 swim ; and I have often seen them, on coming to the surface in 

 a quiet pool, remain perfectly quiescent and floating for several 

 seconds. Fig.8, plate II. 



40. MISSEL THRUSH (Turdus viscivorus). 



Misseltoe Thrush, Missel-bird, Stormcock, Screech Thrush, 

 Holm Thrush, Holm Screech. A handsome bird and an early 

 builder. The Missel Thrush seems to lay aside some of its wildness 

 in the breeding season, and draws near the dwellings of men. Its 

 nest may continually be found in a garden or orchard close to a 

 house, and in the thick fork of an apple or other fruit tree, often 

 ouly a few feet from the ground Woe be to the cat who comes 

 near the nest ! Such a storm of violent abuse and loud-tongued 

 birds' Billingsgate as is poured on her devoted head ! Nor does the 

 human intruder escape quite without a telling of it, or what my 

 Yorkshire friends term " a calling." If a Missel Thrush is very 

 angry with you, be sure his nest is not far off. It is a large 

 structure, of much such materials and design as the Blackbird's, 

 but often bound round and round with long rushes or roots, or 

 other material sufficiently lengthy and pliable. The eggs, four or 

 five in general, often vary much in colouring and marks ; but are 

 in general of a whitish ground-colour, lightly tinged with green 

 (or perhaps faint red), and well spotted with red-brown. Fig. 9, 

 plate 



41. WHITE'S THRUSH (Turdus Whitei). 

 Only a very rare visitant. 



42. FIELDFARE (Turdus pilar is). 



Felfit, Felty-fare, Blue-back, Jack-bird. A very common 

 winter visitor, and staying sometimes as late as 10th May. But 

 they do not breed with us ; and as space is not too abundant, any 

 notice which can be afforded of this bird's nesting habits must 

 be put in the Appendix if found possible. 



43. COMMON THRUSB (Turdus musicus). 

 Song Thrush, Throstle, Mavis. Every one knows this sweet 

 songster, and could point out its pet stone with its little accu- 

 mulation of shattered snail shells which, when whole, had been 



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