In mod parts of this country thefe birds are migratory, 

 vifiting early in fpring and quitting their breeding places 

 as foon as the young are able to provide for themfelves ; their 

 neft is generally built in the fork of a fruit tree, the apple is 

 chiefly preferred, thofe in particular that abound in white 

 mofs, with which their nefts are made, together with dry 

 coarfe grafs and wool, and lined with finer grafs and a few 

 long hairs ; they lay five or fix flefh-coloured eggs fpotted 

 with ferruginous. 



During the breeding feafon, the Miffel Thrum is particu- 

 larly tenacious of its refidence. We find in Mr. White's 

 Hiftory of Selbourn, the following curious circumftance 

 relating thereto. " The Miffel Thrufh is while breeding 

 fierce and pugnacious, driving fuch birds as approach its neft 

 to a diftance ; the Welfh call it Pen y llwyn, the head or 

 mafter of the coppice. He fufFers no Magpie, Jay, or 

 Blackbird to enter the garden where he haunts, and is for the 

 time a good guard to the new fown legumens. 



i( in general he is very fuccefsful in the defence of his 

 family ; but once I obferved in my garden, that feveral Mag- 

 pies came determined to ftorm the neft of a Miffel Thrum ; 

 the dams defended their manfion with great vigour and fought 

 refolutely pro aris etfach; but numbers at laft prevailed, they 

 tore the neft in pieces, and fwal lowed the young alive." 



For itrength of note this ftands foremoft in the lift of 



Britim Song-Birds, it commences its fong with the year, 



being moft generally heard, if the feafon be mild, in the 



beginning 



t 



