MISSEL THRUSH. 
3 
as a line dead Misseltoe Thrush was, a few days ago, found 
near the bush, having a wound in his head. 
“ March 2 .—A blackbird settled on the Misseltoe Thrush’s 
bush to-day. He was allowed to remain there, although a 
Misseltoe Thrush was singing on a fir-tree not far off, and 
quite within sight of what was going on in the bush. This 
seems to confirm the notion that the original possessor was 
killed by the more recent pair, who were either more pacific 
in their tempers, or were less moved by hunger to be tena¬ 
cious, as now the birds are able to find other food besides 
berries. 
“ October 15, 1836. — A Misseltoe Thrush usurping the 
same whitethorn bush on the lawn, at present only driving 
off blackbirds and such larger kinds of birds as before : chaf¬ 
finches and other small birds are left to feed unmolested; 
a jay, coming for a berry, was severely attacked, and at last 
obliged to quit the bush ; but he flew away with a berry in 
his bill.” 
Besides berries of various sorts, including those of the 
misseltoe and juniper-tree, these thrushes feed upon snails, 
worms, beetles, grasshoppers, etc. 
The nest of the Misseltoe Thrush is large and firm in 
construction ; it is built with a few sticks, dry grasses, and 
roots, interwoven together, within which is a stout lining of 
clay, similar to the blackbird’s, and lined thickly with fine 
grasses. The outside covering of the nest is either green 
moss or lichens, usually resembling in colour the branch 
on which the nest is placed : whether this similarity of colour 
is chosen for the purpose of concealment, or is merely in 
accordance with the beautiful harmony that is everywhere 
preserved in nature, we cannot decide ; but we have seen 
Missel Thrushes’ nests placed in situations so exposed that it 
would appear as if concealment for the purpose of safety 
was not considered as of any importance. We remember one 
