MISSEL THRUSH. 
8*23 
is no doubt ; but by what rule this is performed, is difficult to determine, 
especially as we have reason to believe the same bird will return for 
many years together to the same spot ; and yet, why is this more to be 
wondered at than the performance of a carrier pigeon, or the labouring 
bee, which returns with certainty to its well-known hive ? But what 
is the more extraordinary part in the history of our summer migrants 
is, that the males always precede the other sex in their vernal flight ; 
from what cause this is produced we cannot determine, though it is 
certain the male is no sooner arrived than he feels the impulse of love ; 
for, if the weather is warm, he is incessant in his call, or song. [See 
Song of Birds.] 
MILVUS (Auctores.) — *A genus thus characterised. Bill of 
mean length, weak, somewhat angular above; shanks short; shins plated 
with scales ; wings very long ; the fourth quill the longest ; tail forked. 
(Vigors.)* 
MINUTA GALLINULA. — A name for the Little Gallinule. 
MINUTE MERGANSER. — The young of the Smew. 
MIRE CROW. — A name for the Laughing Gull. 
MIRE DRUM. — A name for the Bittern. 
MIRE SNIPE. — A name for the Snipe. 
MISSEL THRUSH {Turdus viscivorus-> Ray.) 
*Turdus visclvorus, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 291. — Gmel. Syst, 1. p. 806.' — Lath. Ind. Orn. 
1. p. 326. 1. — Raii, Syn. p. 64. A. 1. — WiU. p. 137. t. 36. — d’urdus major, 
Briss. 2. p. 200. 1. — La Draine, Bujf. Ois. 3 p. 295. t. 19. f. 1. — Ib. pi. Enl. 
489. — Merle Draine, Temm. Man. d'Orn. 1. p, 161 Mistel Drossel, Meyer, 
Tasschenb. Deut. 1. p. 191. — Bechst. Tasschenb. Dent. 3. p. 324. — Missel- 
Tbrusb, Br. Zool. 1. No. 105. — Arct. Zool. 2. p. 341. 8. — Will. (Angl.) p. 187. 
t. 36. — Lewins Br. Birds, 2. t. 57. — Lath. Syn. 3. p. 16. l.-—Mont. Orn. Diet, 
and Supp. — Bewick's Br. Birds, 1. 96. and Supp. — Flem. Br. Anim. p. 64.* — 
Wale. Syn. 2. t. 197. — Albin, 1. L 33. — Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 10. — Selby, pi. 
44. fig. p. 150. 
Provincial. — -Throstle-cock. Screech or Skrietch Thrush. Holm 
Thrush. Misseltoe Thrush. 
This is the largest species of Thrush ; weight near five ounces ; 
length eleven inches ; the bill is dusky ; the base of the lower mandi- 
ble yellowish ; irides hazel. The whole upper parts of the bird are of 
a light brown, a little inclined to rufous on the rump ; sides of the 
head and throat yellowish white, spotted with brown ; from thence to 
the vent white ; the breast marked with triangular spots, belly and 
sides with roundish ones of a dusky colour ; the two largest series of 
wing coverts are tipped with white ; quills brown, dashed with cinere- 
ous on the outer webs ; tail the same ; the three or four outer feathers 
tipped with white, and the inner web of the exterior one almost white; 
legs are of a light colour, inclining to yellow. 
Y 2 
