and water-meadows. More slender in form, he is further 

 to be distinguished by the dark streaks down his back, white- 

 eye stripe, and greater amount of white at the base of the 

 tail. Further, there is no white neck patch. 



Most people know the common thrush and the blackbird 

 when they see them, and many country-folk, indeed, recognize 

 no more. Yet there are five species in all, which may be 

 called " common." They are to be distinguished, not so 

 much by their flight, as by their general coloration. Neither 

 the common thrush, nor the blackbird need be described 

 here : they cannot easily be confounded with any other bird. 

 But for the moment it might be possible, it is true, to mistake 

 the missel-thrush for the more common song-thrush. It is, 

 however, an unmistakably larger bird, and when on the wing 

 appears greyer, and if seen at close quarters, shows white 

 tips to the outermost tail-feathers, and a white underwing. 

 On the ground, of course, there can be no mistaking it, on 

 account of its much more spotted breast ; the spots, too, 

 being much larger, and fan-shaped. During the autumn 

 and winter there are two other thrushes which should be 

 looked for. These are the fieldfare and the redwing. The 

 first -named, it is to be noted, will be found in smaU flocks, 

 and if examined on the ground through field-glasses will be 

 seen to have a slate-grey neck and rump, and chestnut-brown 

 wings and taU ; while the breast is streaked instead of spotted. 



78 



