THK THRUSH. 23 



All the sweet singing of our wood.-i is performed 

 by small binls, for to large birds have been de- 

 nied the powers of song. The missel-thrnsh is not 

 nn\y the largest of its genus, but is also the largest 

 nf all our songsters. It is a very bold, quarrelsome 

 bird, but like some warm-tempered persons, it is 

 not destitute of the atfeetionate feelings which win 

 our regard. Tiius Gilbert White remarks : ^' It is, 

 while breeding, fierce and pugnacious, driving 

 such birds as approach its nest with gi*eat fury to 

 a distance. The Welsh call it 7V;?/?-r///?r«, the 

 head or master of the cop])ice. lie sutiers no 

 mag]:)ie, jay, or blackbird to enter tiie garden 

 where he haunts, and is for the time a good guard 

 to newly sown legumes. In general, he is very 

 successful in the defence of his family ; but once I 

 o])served in my garden, that several magj)ii's came, 

 detennined to storm the nest of a misscl-thnish : 

 the parents defended their mansion with great 

 vigour, and fought resolutely, y>ro art's et facts; but 

 numbers at last prevailed ; they tore the nest to 

 pieces, and swallowed the young alive." 



These magpies are cruel enemies of many of the 

 smaller birds, and in spring, seem to keep up 

 perpetual warfare with tlie thrushes. Thus 3Ir. 



