TlIK YOUNG NATURALIST. 



331 



paler colour, edged with wood brown ; the 

 outer tail feathers with a dull white spot ; 

 under parts white, tinged with yeilow, and 

 blackish spots; legs and feet pale brown. 

 The sexes are similar. 



The Young, when they leave the nest, 

 have a streak of pale colour down the centre 

 of each dark feather on the back, and the 

 wing and tail feathers are edged with the 

 same colour. Under parts similar to the 

 adult, but lighter in colour. ^See lower 

 figure, pi. 24.) 



Varieties. — White and pied varieties 

 have been recorded. A white one was 

 killed near Exeter in 1851. Mr. Bond has 

 a very pale variety, which is represented in 

 the upper figure, pi. 24, killed near Ply- 

 mouth in 1873. Cases of melanism occur 

 in this species. There is an example in the 

 British Museum. 



Note.' — The ordinary note is a harsh 

 scream, uttered when the bird is alarmed, 

 as by intruders approaching too near its 

 nest. The song is CDmmenced in January, 

 and is always uttered from the top of a tall 

 tree. It is loud and clear, but has not a 

 great variety of tone. It occasionally sings 

 when on the wing. 



Flight. — Rather heavy, produced by a 

 scries of flappings and periods of cessation, 

 which causes an undulating flight. 



Migration. — in *h\s country the Missel 

 Thrush is resident throughout the year, but 

 their numbers seem to be augmented during 

 tlie winter, probably by arrivals from the 

 extreme north. 



Food. — Snails, slugs, worms, and cater- 

 pillars, also berries of almost any kind, in- 

 cluding those of the mistletoe, from which 

 probably the bird derives its name. During 

 fruit season the missel thrush is destructive 

 in the orchard, but at other seasons it 

 destroys large quantities of vermin. It has 

 also been known to devour young birds. 



In CONFiNEMiiNT this bird may easily be 



reared from the nest on bread and milk ; 

 afterwards it should be fed upon German 

 paste, also barley meal and wheaten bread 

 moistened with water, with a little lean beef 

 or hard-boiled eggs to vary the diet. It 

 should have plenty of room, and water to 

 drink and bathe. 



Habitat. — Common in all parts of 

 England and Ireland. For many years this 

 bird has been increasing in numbers in 

 Scotland, but is still rare in the extreme 

 north. It frequents orchards and coppices, 

 &c., open downs and heather, and after the 

 breeding season the young associate with 

 their parents and form small companies. 



Abro.vd it is common throughout Europe, 

 numerous in Turkey and Asia Minor, also 

 parts of Africa, Himalayas, and Cashmere. 

 Those found in India are, by some, con- 

 sidered distinct. Moves from the north 

 southwards during winter. 



Nest. — The nest is begun early in the 

 season, and is generally placed in a thick 

 fork at some distance from the grown. It 

 is composed of coarse dry grass, with bits 

 of moss, lichen, wool, or any other available 

 substances, fastened together internally 

 with mud, and lined with fine grass or 

 fibrous roots. 



Eggs. — The female begins to lay early 

 in ^larch, and the number of eggs vary from 

 four to six. Their colour is generally pale 

 bluish green, spotted with ash grey and red 

 brown (pi. xxiv., fig. C). The old birds arc 

 very pugnacious during the time of incuba- 

 tion, and very noisy if any one approaches 

 too near the nest. 



Varieties.— The eggs of this bird arc 

 subject to great variety. Figs, i, 2, and 3 

 aro from drawings kindly sent me by Mrs. 

 Battersby, taken from eggs in her collection. 

 Fig. 4 is from Mr. C. S. Grogson's collection, 

 and he has another entirely pale blue with- 

 out any spots. Fig. 5 is from my own 

 collection. 



