THE TIIRUSU. 21 



would ti'll to the mountaineer of coming rains. 

 That admirable observer of Nature, Bishoj) Mant, 

 has well descril^cd the variations of the song. 



" But hark ! from top of loflie=Jt beech 

 The }^Iiasel-c(K;k'8 untiioeful screech ; 

 Not like the rich and varied note 

 Mclotlious from the ThroHtle's throat, 

 But a difltinct discordant scream, 

 Ab if for djiy'fl departing bcnm 

 To mourn, or with sad presage meet 

 The embryo stonii of rain and sleet : 

 More tuneful when he takes his stand 

 'Mid the warm sunshine, where at hand 

 On hawthorn, ehn, or maple grow, 

 The boughs of pale green mistletoe, 

 And plucks it« yellow flowers, or feeds 

 On the dark ivy's berried seeds : 

 And sure I ne'er have heard a song 

 Slore clear, more full, more rich, more strong. 

 Though mix'd at times with harsher note, 

 Than issued from liis evening throat, 

 \Vlmt time Fve seen the breezes blow 

 Hi* form all heedless to and fro, 

 ind heard him, as beneath I stood, 

 }')ur forth his music's changeful flood." 



The Frencli call this bird La Drai'ne, and tlie 

 liermans the MisO'hIrossel, like ourselves naming 

 it from the Misseltoe, on which it so often feeds, 

 ^luch of the dispersion of this plant is owing to 

 the thrush; for the berries, after being swallowed, 



