THRUSH. PASSERES. TURDUS. 151 
Mont. Ornith. Dict.—Jd. Sup.—Pult. Cat. Dorset. p. 10.—Bewick’s Br. 
Birds, 1. p. 96.—Id. Sup. 
Provincial, Misseltoe Thrush, Storm Cock. 
The Missel-Thrush is the largest of its tribe, and is indi- 
genous in Great Britain; but its distribution is not so exten- 
sive, nor locally so abundant as that of the song-thrush and 
blackbird.—It appears to be more numerous in the western Locality. 
counties than in any other parts; but it has made its appear- 
ance within these few years, and been rapidly increasing, in 
Northumberland. Except during the period of the produc- 
tion of its young, it is a bird of shy and retired habits, fre- 
quenting the outskirts of woods, or extensive pastures, where 
it feeds upon worms and other insects.—During the winter, Food. 
it lives chiefly upon the berries of the misseltoe and juniper, 
swith those of the hawthorn, holly, and ivy.—It possesses a Song. 
very powerful note, and, in case of mild weather, its song is 
often heard as early as the month of January. It usually sings 
from the highest branch of some tall tree, continuing daily to 
serenade its mate during the time of incubation, but becomes 
silent as soon as the young birds are hatched. It is very cou- 
rageous in the breeding season, attacking indiscriminately all 
other birds that approach its nest; and I have sometimes wit- 
nessed its resolute and successful defence against that fatal ene- 
my to eggs and young broods, the magpie. When disturbed, 
or engaged in contest, it utters a harsh kind of scream. It sel- 
dom mingles with the other species of thrushes, but more fre- 
quently associates in small families during the winter, and 
which resort to extensive pasture and meadow lands.—The Nest, &c. 
place chosen for nidification is commonly the cleft of a tree, 
and the nest is formed externally of white moss and coarse 
grass, interwoven with wool, the whole being lined with the 
_fine stalks of dead grasses. 
In this depositary it lays four or five eggs, of a greenish- 
white, spotted, and speckled with chesnut-brown and clove- 
brown. 
