The Missel Thrush Abundant. 65 



Thrush was less numerous in the neighbourhood than it 

 used to be, even within his brief period of nest-plundering 

 existence, though he was unable to assign the reason for 

 it. This set before him, as proceeding from the severe 

 winters of 1879-80 and 1880-81, he caught the idea up, 

 instantly exclaiming, " That's it sure, sir. I knows the 

 singin' Thrushes be wonderful nesh." By the old saw, 

 there are "sermons in stones, and books in running 

 brooks/' and just such teaching got I from this ragged 

 boy, though the lesson was but confirmatory of my own 

 observations, already made. 



THE MISSEL THRUSH ABUNDANT. 



The conversation which is above reported gave hint 

 of another fact, worthy of a word or two, and one I had 

 also been speculating upon. This, that the Missel Thrush, 

 by the boys termed " Mistletoe/' is in as great numbers 

 as ever, if not greater. This would accord with the orni- 

 thological character of the bird, in connection with the 

 peculiar circumstances which have marked the two winters 

 spoken of both severe beyond the common. The Missel 

 Thrush is a much stronger and hardier bird than the mavis, 

 and will even outlive winters that kill the fieldfare and red- 

 wing, two congeneric species, which one might suppose, 

 by their breeding and spending the summer in more 

 northern climes, would be better able to endure cold in 

 its extreme degree. Still, I believe it is not the cold 

 which tests the strength and endurance of these birds, 



F 



