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KEARTONS' NATURE PICTURES 



underlying markings of grey, and spots 

 and blotches of reddish brown. Some- 



MISSEL THRUSH'S NEST. 



times clutches are met with of a reddish 

 grey ground tint marked with brownish 

 red. 



Although shy during the greater part 

 of the year, the Missel Thrush grows 



bold in the gratification of its appetite, 

 or the protection of its young. I have 

 seen members of this species chasing 

 carrion crows, rooks, and jays away 

 from the locality of their nests. It will 

 courageously attack even the stealthy 

 sparrow hawk, and has been known to 

 perish in an unequal combat with a 

 stoat bent on destroying its fledglings. 



The food of this species consists of 

 snails, slugs, worms, and such wild 

 berries as can be procured in season. 



Unlike the young of the Song 

 Thrush, the members of a family 

 of Missel Thrushes remain together 

 for the greater part of the summer, 

 but appear to break up before the 

 rowan berries are ripe. On one side 

 of my garden an old rowan tree 

 grows, and when the fruit upon it is 

 ripe it is visited all day long by Missel 

 Thrushes. The birds are very intolerant, 

 not only of members of their own kind, 

 but of starlings, blackbirds, and even 

 sparrows alighting on the tree, and with 

 angry harsh notes spend a great deal of 

 their time driving intruders away. 



