TURDUS VISCIVORUS. 



Lm. Syst. Nat. 291- 



THE MISSELBIRD. 



PLATE HI. 



X his is the largest of the British song birds, being ten 

 inches and an half long. My figure in plate the third is 

 a little reduced to bring it within compass. The bill is 

 short and strong, the upper chap pretty much curved, 

 and of a black colour; the lower is dusky at the point, 

 and horn coloured at the base. 



Between the bill and the eyes is a bed of white downy 

 feathers, and several upright black bristles grow about 

 the base of the bill. The inside of the mouth is yellow, 

 the eyes brown, and the feathers which cover the ears 

 are of a pale colour. 



The head is of a dusky ash colour, with a strong cast 

 of olive, the back and rump are olive colour, the latter 

 more yellowish. 



The tail consists of twelve feathers of the same colour 

 as the back, except the two outmost on each side, 

 which at the tips are clouded with white. 



The lower side of the bird, from bill to tail, is white, 

 with a dash of yellow brown on the sides of the breast, 

 and under the wings, and all the white part is beauti- 

 fully spotted with black spots of various shapes; those on 

 the throat and upper part of the breast are triangular, 

 on the lower part oval or kidney-shaped, and towards 

 the tail lunated. 



The legs and feet are yellow, the claws are black, 

 very much curved, and sharp pointed. 



The wing is olive-coloured, the first and second quills 

 having white tips. The coverts have broad white mar- 

 gins. Feeds on the berries of * misseltoe when it can find 

 them ; it also eats insects, bilberries, haws, and other 

 small fruits, like the rest of the thrushes. 



* Viscum album. 



