18 
BRITISH BIRDS, 
THE MISSEL THRUSH, 
MISSEL BIRD OR SHRITE. 
(T urdus viscivorus, Lin. — La Draine , Buff.) 
The length of this bird is eleven inches and three 
quarters, and its breadth above eighteen. The bill is 
dusky ; the base of the lower bill yellow ; the eyes 
hazel ; the head, back, and lesser coverts of the wings 
are of an olive brown, the latter tipped with dull 
brownish white ; the lower part of the back and rump 
tinged with yellowish brown and ash ; the cheeks are 
of a yellowish white, spotted with brown; the breast 
and belly pale yellow, marked with larger spots of a 
very dark brown ; the quills are brown, with pale 
edges ; tail feathers the same, the three outermost tip- 
ped with white: the legs are yellow; claws black. 
The female builds her nest mostly on low trees, or on 
