MISSEL THRUSH. 25 
Sus-raminy TURDINAL. 
MISSEL THRUSH. 
TurRDus viscrvorus, Linn. 
Pl. VL, figs. 15-17. 
Geogr. distr.—Nearly all over Europe, ranges into the Himalayas 
(where, however, it has been regarded as a distinct species); breeds 
commonly in the British Islands, being found everywhere throughout 
England. 
Food.—Berries (including small fruits), seeds, snails, worms, larve, 
. and insects. 
Nest.—Not unlike that of the Blackbird, large and heavy in con- 
struction ; it is formed of twigs, roots, straws and grasses, with an 
inner lining of mud formed into pellets and mixed with grass or roots; 
the interior more carefully constructed of finer grasses and sometimes 
roots and moss; mosses and lichens are also occasionally attached to 
the exterior. 
Position of nest.—In forks or on boughs of trees, generally not 
very far from the ground, in parks, orchards, plantations, and woods. 
Number of eggs.—3-5; usually 4. 
if Time of nidification.—III-V; middle of April; rarely early in 
ay. 
I remember on one occasion seeing the nest of this bird 
in a fork near the top of a tall elm tree in Hyde Park; 
probably the bird had found by experience that, in such a 
public place it was of little use to build within reach of 
boys; a favourite position for the nest is in the hollow 
formed by the branching off of the boughs of an old apple 
tree. 
The Missel Thrush has been known to lay twice in the 
same nest, which, however, was subsequently deserted 
owing to its cracking; it has sufficient affection for its 
young to induce it to attack larger birds which approach 
them too closely; the eggs vary a good deal in size and 
colouring, some eggs in my collection being marked not 
unlike those of the Blackbird, but having a more opaque 
appearance ; the nest, however, appears to vary less, all 
that I have seen being heavily lined with mud, whereas 
this is not always the case with that of the Blackbird. 
Mr. Harting has kindly called my attention to the fact 
that Mr. E. T. Booth once found the nest of Turdus 
viscivorus built in a small stunted bush within three feet 
of the ground. He had never previously seen one at so 
slight an elevation, and was of opinion that this lowly 
site was chosen as being less exposed to the attacks of 
Crows, which were very numerous in the neighbourhood. 
