168 THE ORNITHOLOGICAL GUIDE. 



detailed descriptions of the species in Selby's 

 British Ornithology included between the Missel 

 Thrush, and the Rosecolored Amzel. The descrip- 

 tions are minute, and include even the most trivial 

 circumstances which ornithologists seem hitherto to 

 have overlooked. As a specimen of the style of the 

 work, we present our readers with the following- 

 extract, detailing circumstances in the history of the 

 Missel Thrush : — " When walking in a garden con- 

 taining all kinds of fruit trees, in the summer of 

 1833, the gardener, who, by the way, is by no means 

 more favourable to the feathered race than the rest 

 of his tribe, was prowling about in search of his 

 prey. After a short while, my ears were saluted by 

 the report of a gun from the quarter in which I had 

 but two minutes before observed the gardener with 

 his gun. His aim I knew to be fatal, and on 

 nearing him, to discover the nature of his prize, was 

 not a little astonished to find it the bird whose 

 habits we are now detailing, and still more astonished 

 on learning that it had been feeding on the red 

 currants to a degree which had evidently greatly 

 excited the destructiveness of the predaceous gar- 

 dener. I might have doubted the truth of his story, 

 and have taken it to be merely an excuse for des- 

 troying the bird, had I not since frequently verified 

 the fact from personal observation. It is in walled 

 gardens, partially surrounded by trees, that its 

 frugivorous propensities are most apparent. In such 

 situations, and especially when the young are rearing, 



