190 MERULIDA. 
feeder on berries of all sorts, including those of the mis- 
seltoe, from whence it derives its most common name: the 
germination of the seeds is accelerated by the warmth 
and moisture of the body of the bird. The flesh of the 
Thrushes generally is eatable; and in some species it is 
excellent. 
The Missel Thrush is well known in our southern coun- 
ties to the Land’s end; it is found also in Wales, as has 
been already noticed; and, according to Mr. Thompson, 
though formerly rare in Ireland, it is now common and 
indigenous to Ulster. North of London, it is found in 
Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Yorkshire, Northumberland, Dur- 
ham, and probably all the midland counties; and, as ob- 
served by Mr. Selby, this bird is rapidly increasing in 
numbers still farther to the northward; but I do not find 
it quoted as an inhabitant of the islands west or north of 
Scotland. It nevertheless inhabits Scandmavia and Rus- 
sia, and has been found by Mr. Blyth in India. It is 
found in Germany, France, Provence, and Italy. In this 
country, and in the central portions of Europe, the Missel 
Thrush is resident all the year; but it leaves both Italy 
and Scandinavia during the winter. 
The beak of this bird is dark brown; the under man- 
dible pale yellow at the base; the irides hazel; the top 
of the head, and almost all the upper surface of the body, 
nearly uniform clove brown: wings and wing-coverts 
umber brown ; the latter broadly edged with wood-brown ; 
the wing-feathers with a narrow edge of the same colour ; 
upper surface of the tail-feathers umber brown; the broad 
inner web of each outside tail-feather with a patch of dull 
white; the second feather on each side with a smaller 
patch at the tip; the tail slightly forked: all the under 
surface of the body white, tinged with yellow, and covered 
