4 HANDBOOK OF BRITISH INLAND BIRDS 
bolder, wilder carriage. On the wing he may be 
distinguished by his dipping flight, and paler 
greyish back. The nest is very frequently built 
in gardens and shrubberies, though it is also well 
distributed in the woods and copses, and the 
Missel Thrush is particularly fond of nesting 
in apple-trees, either isolated or in orchards. It 
doubtless gained the name of Mistletoe Thrush, 
of which Missel Thrush is merely a contraction, 
because it was thought to haunt the apple-trees 
for the sake of eating the mistletoe berries ; 
but this notion, though the Latin name sup- 
ports it, is not confirmed by its actual habits. 
The nest is generally built about the beginning of 
April, and is often very conspicuous. It is firmly 
planted in a fork of a bough, and the mud core 
frequently grips the branch on each side much like 
the fangs of a double tooth, and may be so seen 
after the rest of the nest has decayed from ex- 
posure. It is built externally mainly of moss, dry 
stems, and tufts of dry grass, sometimes with 
conspicuous locks of wool protruding, if it is 
situated near a sheep-pasture, and is lined with 
fine dry grass. The eggs, four or five in number, 
are clear, light green, very handsomely spotted 
with a dense, deep reddish-brown, and clear lilac- 
pink. The size of the spots varies from large 
blotches to small, precise flecks. When disturbed 
