CHAPTER XIX. 



THE MISSEL-THRUSH. 



This is the largest of our British song birds. It remains with 

 us through the whole year, not being migratory, excepting in so 

 far as it moves off in considerable flocks into Herefordshire and 

 Monmouthshire for the sake of the mistletoe which abounds in 

 the orchards there, on the viscous berries of which it delights 

 to feed, and whence it has obtained its familiar name of missel, 

 or mistletoe thrush. It is generally believed that this curious 

 parasitic plant was propagated or planted upon the branches of 

 trees, by this bird rubbing its bill upon the rough bark to clean 

 it from the sticky substance of the berry, and thus introducing' 

 the seeds into the interstices of the bark. 



The Missel-thrush is a handsome bird ; the head, back, and 

 upper coverts of the wings olive-brown, the latter tipped with 

 brownish-white, spotted with brown ; the breasts and under 

 parts pale yellow, covered with black spots ; the legs are 

 yellow and the claws black. 



It is a welcome bird, being the earliest harbinger of spring, 

 the first singer of the year. Long before the swallow is thought 

 of, before even the hardy familiar robin has begun his song, its 

 clear rich voice may be heard on Christmas or New Year's day, 

 often amidst wild winds and winterly storms, whence its also 

 familiar name, the storm-cock. It is known by different names 



