4 bold, determined Eird 141 



grow up soon get too big for it and fall out. This period 

 just before the young can fly is the most critical in 

 their existence, and causes the greatest anxiety to the 

 parents. Without the resource of flight, weak and unable 

 even to scramble fast through the long grass, betraying 

 their presence by continually crying for food, they are 

 exposed to dangers from every species of vermin. 



The missel-thrush is a bold, determined bird, and does 

 his utmost in the defence of his offspring. When the 

 young birds fall out of the nest (so soon as one has clam- 

 bered over, the others quickly follow), the parents rarely 

 leave the orchard together. One or other is almost always 

 close at hand. If any enemy approaches they immediately 

 set up an angry chattering, by which noise you may at 

 once know what is going on. I have seen two missel- 

 thrushes attack a crow in this way. The crow came and 

 perched upon a bough within a yard of their nest, which 

 contained young. The old birds were there immediately, 

 and they so annoyed and buffeted the murderous robber 

 that he left without achieving his fell purpose. 



The cat is the worst enemy of the missel-thrush. It 

 is noticeable that while these thrushes will attack anything 

 that flies they are not so bold on the ground, but seem 

 afraid to alight. They will strike even at the human 

 hand that touches their nest. The crow, strong as he 

 is, they courageously drive away; but the eoemy that 

 stealthily approaches along the ground to the helpless 

 young bird in the grass they cannot resist. On the wing 

 they can retreat quickly if pressed ; on the ground they 

 cannot move so swiftly, and may themselves fall a prey 

 without affording any assistance. The missel-thrushes 

 come to the orchard frequently after the nesting season is 

 over and before it commences. They do not seem in 



