In moft parts of this country thefe birds are migratdry, 
vifiting early in fpring and quitting their breeding places 
as foon as the young are able to provide for themfelves ; their 
neil 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 fiefh-coloured eggs fpotted 
with ferruginous. 
During the breeding feafon, the Miffel Thrufh is particu- 
larly tenacious of its refidence. We find in Mr. White's 
Hiftory of Selbourn, the following curious circuraftance 
relating thereto. The Miffel Thrufh is while breeding 
fierce and pugnacious, driving fuch birds as approach its nefl 
to a diftance ; the Welfh call it Pen y Uwyn, the head or 
mafler of the coppice. He fuffers no Magpie, Jay, or 
Blackbird to ^nter the garden where he haunts, and is for the 
time a good guard to the new fown legumens. 
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 nefl of a Miffel Thrufh ; 
the dams defended their manfion with great vigour and fought 
refoiutely pro arts et facts; but numbers at lafl prevailed, they 
tore the neil in pieces, and fwallowed the young alive." 
For ftrcngth of note this (lands foremoil: in the lift of 
Britifli Song-Birds, it comm.ences its fong with the year, 
being moft generally heard, if the feafon be mild, in the 
be^lnnino; 
