190 MERULHLE. 



feeder on berries of all sorts, including those of the mis- 

 seltoe, from whence it derives its most common name : the 

 germination of the seeds is accelerated by the warmth 

 and moisture of the body of the bird. The flesh of the 

 Thrushes generally is eatable ; and in some species it is 

 excellent. 



The Missel Thrush is well known in our southern coun- 

 ties to the Land's end ; it is found also in Wales, as has 

 been already noticed ; and, according to Mr. Thompson, 

 though formerly rare in Ireland, it is now common and 

 indigenous to Ulster. North of London, it is found in 

 Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Yorkshire, Northumberland, Dur- 

 ham, and probably all the midland counties ; and, as ob- 

 served by Mr. Selby, this bird is rapidly increasing in 

 numbers still farther to the northward ; but I do not find 

 it quoted as an inhabitant of the islands west or north of 

 Scotland. It nevertheless inhabits Scandinavia and Rus- 

 sia, and has been found by Mr. Blyth in India. It is 

 found in Germany, France, Provence, and Italy. In this 

 country, and in the central portions of Europe, the Missel 

 Thrush is resident all the year ; but it leaves both Italy 

 and Scandinavia during the winter. 



The beak of this bird is dark brown ; the under man- 

 dible pale yellow at the base ; the irides hazel ; the top 

 of the head, and almost all the upper surface of the body, 

 nearly uniform clove brown: wings and wing-coverts 

 umber brown ; the latter broadly edged with wood-brown ; 

 the wing-feathers with a narrow edge of the same colour ; 

 upper surface of the tail-feathers umber brown ; the broad 

 inner web of each outside tail-feather with a patch of dull 

 white ; the second feather on each side with a smaller 

 patch at the tip ; the tail slightly forked : all the under 

 surface of the body white, tinged with yellow, and covered 



