430 BRITISH BIRDS. 



The Fiehlfari' (T. jjilaris) and the Redu-ing (T. iliacin;) are 

 regular winter visitors, feeding upon insect-grubs and worms in 

 the fields and woods, unless the ground is covered with snow, 

 when berries are eaten. 



The 31 isse!- Thrush (T. viscivoruf) is another permanent species, 

 the largest of the genus. It breeds in our islands, and its 

 numbers, like so many of our birds, are greatly augmented in 

 winter by migrants. The " storm-cock," as it is sometimes 

 called, makes its nest in the fork of a bough of a tree as 

 early as February. In habits the missel-thrush is very vicious, 

 often attacking other birds and carrying oflf the nestlings. The 

 food consists of various wild berries, worms, snails, slugs, and 

 insects. 



The Nifjhfinijnlp (Dmdiaa lusruiia) is found in the southern, 

 eastern, and midland counties of England. In the west it 

 becomes rare, and is almost unknown in Devon and Cornwall. 

 In Wales it is very rare, whilst it is quite unknown in "West- 

 moreland, Cumberland, ^Northumberland, Durham, Scotland, 

 and Ireland. This noted singing bird comes to us about the 

 middle of April ; but I have notes of its appearance in Sussex 

 and Kent as early as April .3. It leaves lis again in the 

 autumn, either singly or in small flocks. Insects form the 

 chief food ; but fruit, berries, and worms are also devoured. 

 The old birds migrate later in the year than the young. 



The Turdinfe are mostly beneficial, although at times they 

 rob us of our fruit, and, in the case of the blackbird, need 

 keeping in check ; but the vermin that they kill would do 

 far more damage than they do. These birds have the most 

 highly developed voice, and their general structure places them 

 at the apex of bird organisation, the brain especially being well 

 formed. 



