MISSEL THRUSH 
3 
birds, though owing to the difficulty of distinguish- 
ing individuals it is very hard to tell which of 
those that we may see on any winter's day are 
home-bred, and which come from abroad. 
In the case of the Missel Thrush, the migratory 
habit is very conspicuous even within the narrow 
limits of a single garden or orchard, if, as is often 
the case, he happens to build in it annually. During 
the autumn months we lose sight of him, and 
cannot tell whether our own particular Missel 
Thrush is or is not a member of the harshly 
chattering flocks that we see devouring the haw- 
thorn or holly berries in frosty weather. But 
very early in the spring, often, indeed, long before 
spring begins, he returns to the old precincts, and 
on the coldest and wildest days is often to be 
heard exuberantly singing on some lofty bough or 
tree-top, with that apparent delight in what seems 
to most other beings most unpleasant weather^ 
which has gained him his name of Stormcock. 
His voice comes between the Song Thrush's and 
the Blackbird's in tone, and his song, though it 
has neither the Blackbird's peculiar softness nor 
the Song Thrush's variety and compass, has a 
wildness and freedom which excels them both. 
The Missel Thrush is distinctly larger than the 
Song Thrush, though the difference is less observ- 
able to an unpractised eye than his taller build and 
B 2 
