MISSEL THRUSH. 323 



is no doubt ; but by what rule this is performed, is difficult to determine, 

 especially as we have reason to believe the same bird will return for 

 many years tog-ether to the same spot ; and yet, why is this more to be 

 wondered at than the performance of a carrier pigeon, or the labouring- 

 bee, which returns with certainty to its well-known hive ? But what 

 is the more extraordinary part in the history of our summer migrants 

 is, that the males always precede the other sex in their vernal flight ; 

 from what cause this is produced we cannot determine, though it is 

 certain the male is no sooner arrived than he feels the impulse of love ; 

 for, if the weather is warm, he is incessant in his call, or song. [See 

 Song of Birds.] 



MILVUS (Auctores.) — *A genus thus characterised. Bill of 

 mean length, weak, somewhat angular above; shanks short; shins plated 

 with scales ; wings very long ; the fourth quill the longest ; tail forked. 

 (Vigors.)* 



MINUTA GALLINULA. — A name for the Little Gallinule. 

 MINUTE MERGANSER.— The young of the Smew. 

 MIRE CROW.— A name for the Laughing Gull. 

 MIRE DRUM.— A name for the Bittern. 

 MIRE SNIPE.— A name for the Snipe. 

 MISSEL THRUSH {Turdus viscivorus, Ray.) 



*Turdus viscivorus, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 291. — Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 806. — Lath. Ind. Orn. 

 1. p. 326. 1.— Rail, Syn. p. 64. A. 1.— Will. p. 137. t. 36.— Turdus major, 

 Briss. 2. p. 200. 1.— La Draine, Buff. Ois. 3 p. 295. t. 19. f. 1.— Ib. pi. Enl. 



489. — Merle Draine, Temm. Man. d Orn. 1. p. 161 Mistel Drossel, Meyer, 



Tasschenb. Deut. 1. p. 191. — Bechst. Tasschenb. Deut. 3. p. 324. — Missel- 

 Thrush, Br. Zool. 1. No. 105.— Arct. Zool. 2. p. 341. 8.— Will. (Angl.) p. 187. 



t. 36.— Lewin's Br. Birds, 2. t. 57 Lath. Syn. 3. p. 16. 1.— Mont. Orn. Diet. 



and Supp. — Bewick 1 s Br. Birds, 1. 96. and Supp. — Flem. Br. Anim. p. 64.* — 

 Wale. Syn. 2. t. 197.— Albin, 1. t. 33.— Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 10.— Selby, pi. 

 44. fig. p. 150. 



Provincial. — Throstle-cock. Screech or Skrietch Thrush. Holm 

 Thrush. Misseltoe Thrush. 

 This is the largest species of Thrush ; weight near five ounces ; 

 length eleven inches ; the bill is dusky ; the base of the lower mandi- 

 ble yellowish ; irides hazel. The whole upper parts of the bird are of 

 a light brown, a little inclined to rufous on the rump ; sides of the 

 head and throat yellowish white, spotted with brown ; from thence to 

 the vent white ; the breast marked with triangular spots, belly and 

 sides with roundish ones of a dusky colour ; the two largest series of 

 wing coverts are tipped with white ; quills brown, dashed with cinere- 

 ous on the outer webs ; tail the same ; the three or four outer feathers 

 tipped with white, and the inner web of the exterior one almost white; 

 legs are of a light colour, inclining to yellow. 



y 2 



