MERULID^E. 45 



March, and is frequently placed in a garden or orchard, or 

 at other times in the cleft of some forest-tree, near the 

 trunk, or upon one of the larger branches. The eggs are 

 sometimes four, but more generally five, and occasionally 

 six in number; often of a pale-greenish tint, blotched with 

 reddish-brown, though at other times the ground-colour is 

 of a pale-reddish cast, with dark red-brown spots. Though 

 at some periods of the year shy in its habits, the Missel- 

 Thrush draws near to our habitations with the utmost con- 

 fidence during the breeding season, and forms its nest in 

 places the most exposed to our view. " This year," writes 

 Mr. Waterton, " there is a Storm-cock's nest within fifteen 

 yards of the place where the masons are at work. Our 

 tame Magpie, which is allowed its freedom and the use of 

 its wings, seized the female, some days ago, and brought 

 her close to the masons. The male bird instantly came up 

 and rescued his mate by fighting the magpie until he made 

 it let go its hold." Cherries, raspberries, the berries of the 

 mistletoe, yew, mountain-ash, and of the different species 

 of the service-tree, with insects, constitute a considerable 

 part of the food of the Missel-Thrush ; and after the breed- 

 ing season is over, gardens suffer sometimes extensively 

 from its incursions. (PL IX. fig. 62.) 



