THE MISSEL THRUSH. 
127 
thus particular, as similar depredations on the part of this species 
have not been related in any ornithological work with which I am 
acquainted. In his History of Selborne, White remarks, that 
“ missel-thrushes do not destroy the fruit in our gardens like 
other species of Turdi ," and on this passage (so far as I have noticed) 
not one of his numerous commentators has made an observa- 
tion. Sir Wm. Jar dine * particularizes only “ wild-benies " as 
their food ; hence we may conclude that the gardens known to him 
have been exempt from their attacks. In an anonymous contribu- 
tion to Loudon's Magazine of Natural History, facts similar to 
those I have brought forward are recorded (vol. iv. p. 184). 
The stomachs of two individuals, examined by me in January 
and September, contained the remains of coleopterous insects in 
addition to vegetable matter. Mr. J. Poole mentions “ lob-worms" 
as their general food, but that in one stomach he found several 
small green caterpillars, some Scolopendm , and the remains of 
a lizard. These birds vary much in numbers in different years, and 
are capricious as to localities, not a flock, either large or small, being 
seen in some seasons at places where they are usually common. I 
have been particularly reminded of this by not seeing one about 
Holy wood House during the autumn of 1847, while in that of 
1846, and commonly, they were in such numbers, that from 
twenty to thirty would be seen at a time feeding on the berries 
of the mountain-ash trees (Pyrus aucuparia) near the windows 
of the dwelling-house. 
Priends who have had better opportunities for observation than 
myself, are of opinion that the flocks seen in July and August 
about Belfast, and believed to be bred there, migrate southward, 
which supposition is strengthened by the statements of corres- 
pondents residing further south; and by the fact, that the birds 
are never seen in numbers during the winter, though a regular 
stock is kept up throughout the year. In Connemara, the 
species is said to be common in winter, and only at that 
season.f Its “ average winter arrival" to the neighbourhood 
* Brit. Birds, vol. ii. p. 77. 
f Mr. M'Calla. 
