4 
MERULID.E. 
that was built on the outer branch of a small oak-tree, over¬ 
hanging a lane, the common approach to the village for foot- 
passengers, where, before the leaves were out upon the tree, 
the hen bird might be plainly seen by every passer by, sitting 
upon her eggs, and not a hawk could fly over without ob¬ 
serving the spot. This nest was, nevertheless, most carefully 
covered with the same white lichen with which the bark of the 
tree was clothed. 
Much diversity of opinion appears to prevail with regard 
to the song of the Missel Thrush, whose voice is sometimes 
heard loud and clamorous on the approach of a storm, and 
sometimes raised in angry cadence when its rights are in¬ 
vaded by any intruder upon its haunts. Its song, properly 
so called, was considered by Montagu as superior to that of 
any other of the Merulidse, although popular opinion usually 
gives the preference to the song thrush. 
The Missel Thrush has also notes highly expressive of 
sorrow for the loss of its young. On this subject our friend, 
the Rev. E. J. Moor, says:—“This spring, 1841, I saw 
a hawk on our lawn, carrying off a young Misseltoe Thrush, 
just full-grown ; the old birds were attacking the hawk 
furiously, uttering sounds highly expressive both of terror 
and anger. The hawk flew to a fir-tree close at hand, 
and there was forced to leave the young bird, and to fly 
away without it, the old birds following it still, but not 
with such loud notes as before. When they had driven 
the hawk to some distance, they returned to the fir-tree, 
and notes of lamentation were set up (I think only by one 
of the old ones, probably the female). The notes were 
faint, moaning, and periodical; very different in expression 
from those lately uttered, and seemed very clearly to tell 
that the young one had died under the talons of the enemy.” 
The Missel Thrush is common, and resident throughout 
the year in most of the temperate parts of Europe, except 
