THE BIRDS 
OF 
LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND. 
Class AVES. 
Sub-class V ES-CA RI N 
Order PASSERES. 
Sub- ORDER OSCINES. 
Section OSCTNES-DENTIROSTRES. 
Family TUEDIDiE. 
Sub-family TURDIXJ^. 
]MISTLETOE-THRUSH. Ttirdtis viscivorus, Linnaeus. 
“ Mistil,” “ Mistle,” or “ Missel ’’-Tlirush, “ Storm-cock,” 
“ Thrice-cock,” “ Tlirish-cock,” “ Thristle-cock.” 
Resident, and generally distributed ; breeding in gardens close to, or even 
within, the town of Leicester. — The late INIr. Jas. Harley recorded it as com- 
mencing its song towards the early part of December, and gave 2nd Dec., 1845, 
and 11th Dec., 1848, as being dates when he heard the Missel-Thrush in full 
song. It is quite true that it sings thus early in open seasons, yet I think 
it is most frequently heard towards the end of January and in February, In 
1883 Mr. IMacaulay reported it as singing at Kibvvorth on 19th Feb., whilst in 
1885 I heard it singing at Aylestone early in the morning of 3rd Feb. During 
the frosts of January, 1885, I observed it so near to the town as the fields 
next to the Cattle-market, Aylestone Road, where, as is usual in winter, it was 
gregarious, so far as family parties are concerned, and feeding with others of 
the Turdinse, this species being, as Mr. W. Ingram justly remarks, “not gregarious 
like Fieldfares, but consorting in families.” 
