which we treat in another place, among the Pifcivorous Land-birds. The j^- 

 (Wof Darbypre is, if I miftake not, tic Female of the Ring-Ouzel although it 

 hathnottheleaftftiadoworappearanceof aring We know but one fort of Stare. 

 The Stone-Ouzelov greater RedJiar^sa\Co th^ Solitary Spano^fmtival, which we 

 have feen beyond Seas, are ftrangers and unknown to England. To this Tribe we 

 have fubjoynedfome exotic Birds out of Marggravius, for their agreement m bigneis 

 or colour,^. 



Chap. XVII. 

 Ihrufhes properly fo called, haVmg a J>otted Breajl. 



The MiJJel-bird or Shrite'^ Tkdus vifcivorus major. 



^His Bird is the biggeft of this kind, weighing four ounces and an half! Its 

 length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail was eleven inches. Its 

 breadth eighteen. 



Its Bill is (height, like a Blackbirds, or for the bignefs, a little ftiorter : The upper 

 Chap dusky, fomewhat longer than the lower : The Tongue hard, channel d and ilit 

 at the tipi horny, and pellucid : Theinfide of the Mouth is yellow : The Nofthnls 

 great, almoft of an Oval figure : The hides of the Eyes hazel-coloured. The Legs 

 and Feet yellowing the Claws black. The outer fore-toe fticks to the middlemoit 

 as far as the firft joynt, no membrane intervening. The Head is of a dusky cinereous 

 or lead-colour, the middle part of each feather being blacker. The Back, Tail, and 

 Rump have fome mixture of yellow. In Summer it changes colour, and becomes 

 more cinereous. [The colour of the Head, Back, Wings, and Tail, m a word of 

 the whole upper fide feemed to me to approach to that of Spattijh Olives pickled while 

 yet immature, fuch as are ufually brought over to us.] Theunderfide of the body 

 from the Bill to the Tail is fpeckled with pretty great blackifti fpots. The upper 

 part of the Bread, the Sides, and feathers under the Tail are yellow, the middle of 

 the Belly white. 



The number of quill-feathers in each Wing is eighteen, whereof the fecond, being 

 the longeft, is by meafure five inches. The tips of the feathers next incumbent on the 

 quills are white. The Tail is four inches and an half long, and made up of twelve 

 equal feathers. 



It hath no Craw : The Gizzard is not very thick or fleftiy , therein we found Mag- 

 gots, Caterpillars, &c. though the Bird was killed in January. The Guts were great, 

 but {hort : The blind Guts very little and (hort. It had a pale-coloured Liver, and a 

 Gallbladder. 7 . . 



Sitting upon theiops of high trees, as Oaks, Elms, &c. in the Spring time it lings 

 rarely well. It aj&des the year round with us in England, and breeds here. It is a 

 folitary Bird, accompanying and flying only with its Mate. It is the worff meat of all 

 its kind. / . 



In Winter time it feeds much upon Holly-berries. And ( which is ftrange )the birds 

 of this kind are obferved each to take pofleffion of his tree, and to be always near lt^ 

 and not to permit other birds to feed on it, but to beat and drive them away : Which 

 quality of theirs is the occafion that they are eafily taken. 



A late EngliQi Writer faith, that this bird makes as large aNeft as a Jay, and lays as 

 big an Egg: Builds commonly with rotten twigs the outfide of his Neft, the infide 

 with dead Grafs, Hay, or Mofs, that he pulls from trees. It feldom lays above five 

 Eggs, but four moft commonly, breeds but twice a year, and hath three young ones, 

 never above four, that I could find}. She feeds all her young ones with Miffelto ber- 

 ries, 'and nothing el(e as I could perceive, having diligently watched them for two 

 or three hours together. This lean hardly believe, fir that the old ones feed upon other 

 berries toa^and aljo Infers. For Convulsions or the Falling ficknefs,kill this bird,dry him 

 to a powder>and tikethe quantity of a penny weight every morning in fix fpoonfuls 

 of black Cherry water, or the diftilled water of M#/^berries. The reafon of this 

 conceit is, becaufe this bird feeds upon MiJJelto, which is an approved remedy for the 

 Bpilepfie. Bb 2 §..11. 



