MISSEL THRUSH 3 
Jackdaws. The birds afterwards built and laid in another 
nest, in a hole in the masonry, in another part of the ruins. 
‘The attachment of the Missel Thrush to such a place 
is curious; the buildings stand on a bare and wind-swept 
islet, and there are no trees. At the time the young are 
being reared crowds of visitors are constantly passing 
through the grounds.’ 
Another singular nesting site was mentioned to me by 
Dr. J. H. Bailey. This was in Church Road, Port Erin, 
where in 1903 a nest was built on one of a row of houses. 
The lower story is used as a shop, and over the window 
outstanding letters form the word ‘CHEMIST.’ The nest 
was placed between the letter ‘M’ and the front of the 
house, and two broods were hatched in that year. Dr. 
Bailey found another nest of the species with eggs in a 
stone wall facing a byroad from Port Erin to the Mull, a 
few feet above the ground. 
The number of eggs laid is usually four, but I have at 
least once met with five in a nest. 
Mr. Kermode states that in the neighbourhood of Ramsey 
Jackdaws show much enmity to this species, driving it from 
its nest, whether finished or unfinished, and even pulling 
to pieces a nest in an ash-tree at Claughbane. Mr. W. C. 
Cubbon has told me of a Missel Thrush which at Balla- 
salla manifested extraordinary hostility to a cat, endeavour- 
ing to attack it even through the glass of a greenhouse on 
his premises. 
In the Ramsey Cowrier of 18th February 1898 it was 
stated that a few days before the nest of a ‘Scotch 
Thrush’ had been found at Ballacoarey, Andreas. It 
often commences to build in March, and the young are 
hatched by mid-April—(on 8th April 1900 Mr. Crellin saw 
one which had already left the nest)—while in other cases 
the eggs are not laid until May has begun. In the later 
