2 
MERULID.E 
small parties,—most probably the family of the preceding year, 
—and does not associate in flocks, as is the case with the 
fleldfare and redwing. Its quarrelsome disposition is ap¬ 
parent in the violent attacks it makes upon any intruder 
upon its chosen haunts. On this subject we have some 
curious particulars communicated by a friend, the Rev. E. J. 
Moor, from his journal:—“ We have at this time, Novem¬ 
ber 8th, on our lawn at Bealings, two whitethorn bushes, 
about twenty yards from each other, one well-covered with 
berries, the other getting very bare. The cause of this 
difference is, that a Misseltoe Thrush has taken possession 
of one, namely, the well-covered bush, which he has had 
for some weeks. Whenever a blackbird or common thrush 
lights on this bush he immediately drives it off very furiously. 
He suffers chaffinches and other small birds to come on, and 
seldom disturbs them at all, and never much ; but he never 
allows a blackbird or thrush to remain on his bush for an 
instant. He does not disturb them if they go to the other 
whitethorn, where they may and do feed quite quietly. This 
bush is getting very thin of berries. The Misseltoe Thrush 
does not leave the lawn and its neighbourhood, nor join the 
flock of Missel Thrushes which sometimes comes upon the 
lawn. We have not, however, noticed the arrival of this flock 
since our Missel Thrush took possession of the bush. At 
this moment there are two blackbirds on their own bush 
feeding quietly. 
“ December 17.—I have observed the Misseltoe Thrush’s 
bush almost every day, and have never seen one blackbird 
or thrush suffered to remain on it for an instant. There 
is scarcely a berry left on the blackbird’s bush, but the 
Misseltoe Thrush’s bush is quite red with them. He keeps 
sole possession. 
“January 17, 1835.—A pair of Misseltoe Thrushes have 
now got the bush, who probably killed the original possessor, 
