'I 
MISSEL-TIIRUSir. 
is cowering? from tlio cold and cutting winds. I repeatedly noticed these birds early in the year perching 
on some lofty and exposed branch at some considerable distance from their accustomed haunts, and, after giving 
utterance to a few loud notes, flying off again at once on their daily round in quest of food. On March 22, 
1880, my attention was attracted near Brighton by a large bird rising in the air from a small clump of trees 
and sino-in" ivliile on wiim; though the actions were somewhat similar, the drop was by no means so sudden as 
that of the Tree-Pipit, being continued for at least fifty or sixty yards. On carefully approaching the next 
time the songster mounted in the air, I was sufficiently close to ascertain without doubt that the performer 
was a IVIissel-TIirush. 
The nest is usually placed at some height in a commanding forest tree, at times in a Scotch fir, or 
even in close proximity to a dwelling in an apple- or pear-tree. Being for the most part constructed before 
the leaves have opened, it is artfully concealed in a cleft among the branches or against the main stem, 
and is rendered still less conspicuous by the application to its exterior of tufts of moss and lichen 
gathered from the tree itself. "While watching a brood of young Redpoles in the spring of 1878 in a damp 
alder-car at Ludham, in the east of Xorfolk, I detected the nest of a Missel-Thrush, built in a small stunted 
bush within three feet of the ground. I had never previously noticed one at so slight an elevation ; and 
in this instance it could not have been for want of larger timber, as several oaks of fair size were growino* 
over the identical bush in which the nest was placed. This lowly site was probably chosen by the old birds 
as not so exposed to the attacks of Crows, these depredators being plentiful and unchecked in the district. 
The eggs of the Missel-Thrush are too well known to need description, and usually vary but slightly; 
some thirty years ago, however, I took, for four or five successive seasons, one or two clutches of a most 
singular variety in the east of Sussex. In shape they were far rounder than the usual type, and were of a pale 
uniform blue, similar in colour to those of the Starling; now and then one exhibited a few scrawls of a 
darker blue or purple. 
I could not learn whether any particular name is assigned to this species in the Highlands ; indeed in many 
glens it appeared to have escaped the notice of the natives. In the broad-district of the east of Norfolk it is 
known as the “Dow” or “Doo Pulfer,” its size being imagined to correspond with that of the Dove. In 
East Sussex it is invariably termed the “ Screech ” by the country people. 
In bard waatber there are few better birds for tlie table. Young sportsmen wbo may wish to secure a 
bag wall find it useless to follow tins wary species during the day; but by eoneealing themselves shortly before 
dusk m the plantations to which they resort to roost, several shots may he obtained in rapid succession 
