96 
BRITISH BIRDS. 
MISSEL THRUSH. 
MISSEL BIRD OR SHRITE. 
( Tardus VifcivoruSy Lin.- — La Draine, BufE) 
The length of this bird is about eleven inches : 
The bill is dufky, the bafe of the lower bill yel- 
low; the eyes hazel; the head, back, and leffer 
coverts of the wings are of a deep olive brown, 
the latter tipped with white ; the lower part of the 
back and rump tinged with yellow ; the cheeks are 
of a yellowifh white, fpotted with brown, as are al- 
fo the break: and belly, which are marked with lar- 
ger fpots, of a dark brown colour ; the quills are 
brown, with pale edges ; tail feathers the fame; 
the three outermoll tipped with white ; the legs are 
yellow ; claws black. The female builds her neft 
in bullies or low trees, and lays four or live eggs, 
of a dirty flelh colour, marked with blood red fpots. 
Its neft is made of mofs, leaves, &c. lined with 
dry grafs, ftrengthened on the outfide with fmall 
twigs. It begins to fmg very early, often on the 
turn of the year in blowing Ihowery weather, from 
whence in fome places it is called the Storm-cock, 
Its note of anger is very loud and harlh, between 
a chatter and a lhriek, which accounts for fome of 
its names. It feeds on various kinds of berries, 
particularly thofe of the milletoe, of which bird- 
lime is made. It was formerly believed that the 
