122 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE MISSEL THRUSH. 



MISSEL BIRD OR SHRITE. 



(Turd us vtsctvorus, Linn. j\Icrle dnunc^ Temm.) 



LENGTH eleven inches and three-quarters, breadth 

 above eighteen. The bill is dusky; the base of the 

 lower mandible yellow; the eyes hazel; the head, 

 back, and lesser coverts of the wings olive brown, 

 the latter tipped Avith dull brownish white ; the 

 lower part of the back and rump tinged with yel- 

 lowish brown and ash ; the cheeks are yellowish 

 white, spotted with brown; the breast and belly 

 pale yellow, marked with larger spots of very dark 

 brown ; quills brown, with pale edges ; tail feathers 

 the same; the three outermost tipped with white; 

 the legs are yellow; claws black; builds mostly on 

 low trees, or on high bushes, and lays four or five 



