id8 The Missel- thrush. 



as if it could not sufficiently express its emotion, and yet was 

 trying to do so. 



The missel-thrush is a bird of very marked character, and is 

 both bold and chivalrous. Its harsh, jarring note of anger and 

 defiance is the first to be heard when a bird-enemy is at hand. 

 If a cuckoo or hawk is anywhere near meditating mischief, the 

 missel-thrush is vehement in his expression of displeasure. In 

 our own neighbourhood, where the jays in summer come from 

 the wood to carry the young of the sparrows from their nests 

 in the ivied boles of the trees round our garden, the outcry of 

 the parent sparrows instantly arouses the sympathetic missel- 

 thrushes, who, with a scolding defiance, rush to the rescue. Of 

 course these birds, which are of so militant a character, and so 

 loud in protesting against a wrong done to another, will be 

 equally alive to their own rights, and active in defending their 

 own nests and young. Some naturalists have suggested that 

 this combatant temper a.nd extraordinary courage are but the 

 natural consequence of the bird finding its nest open to common 

 attack ; for, being of a large size, and built early in the year 

 whilst the trees are yet leafless, it is visible to every enemy and 

 depredator. 



Mr. Thompson says : " Often have I seen a pair of these birds 

 driving off magpies, and occasionally fighting against four of 

 them. One pair which I knew attacked a kestrel which ap- 

 peared in their neighbourhood when the young were out. One 

 of them struck the hawk several times, and made as many more 

 fruitless attempts, as the enemy, by suddenly rising in the air, 

 escaped the cunning blow. They then followed the kestrel for 

 a long way, until they were lost to our sight in the distance." 



