MISSEL-THRUSH.
TVRDUS FISCirOBUS.
BUT few notes concerning the occurrence of the Missel-Thrush in the more northern counties of Scotland
arc to be found in my journals; a pair or two were, however, observed in the densely wooded stratli
through which the Heavily river runs down towards the coast. I also recognized the species near
Dingwall, on the islands at Inverness, and in the neighbourhood of Dunkeld and a lew of the adjacent glens.
According to my own experience, (bis lino Thrush is decidedly local to the north of tho Tweed. During
a residence of a couple of years in But Lotbiau a few .scattered birds were occasionally noticed late iu
autumn about the plantations in the vicinity of tho coast; these were, without doubt, miyants from across
the North Sen working their way towards the south. Tim mahout L'ngluud the Missel-Thrush is well known
in every locality where a sufficient amount of cover is to be found.
Numbers of this species occasionally join in flocks before the close or summer: on August 5, 1876j shortly
before dusk, 1 remarked some fifty to sixty circling in company round some of the heeeh-phiiitatious on tho
Downs near Brighton; these birds bad collected to roost among the thick cover, and wore probably all reared
ill the district. Iu Cornwall several flocks passed over the country between the Lizard and Penzance, Hying
west, during October 1>*0. On November .'1, the day being tine, with a cold north-east wiud, numbers of
Missel-Thrushes were resorting in small parties to the shelter of the dills between the Logan Rock and the
Lwd'l End; the afternoon sim rcudered the spot they had selected warm and bright, and Hilling, when
disturlied, from cue patch of moss-grown rock to another, they carefully avoided the keen and wintry blasts :
Swallows and .Martins were also skimming backwards and forwards in the sunshine, while Blackstarts aud
a lew Pipits were to be seen on the same ledges as the Thrushes.
l-'rom the accession to their numlxrs frequently observed during the latter part of autumn aud early
winter, it is evident that considerable numbers of 31 issel-T11rushes must reach our shores from the north of
Europe. IVhat track the migrants follow I am unable to state, though iu all probability the majority make
the laud towards tbe more northern portions of the British Isles, hut two or three having been secured on tho
light-ships off the east coast during the seasons I was in correspou deuce with the crews. Early in April 1973
a couple of wings were received* from the ' Lynn Well;' these bad been takeu on board during tbe latter part
of the whiter.
Tbe 31isscl-Thrush is well able to withstand the rigour of our winters, unless tbe weather should prove
unusually severe. On December 1», 1»»>J, a pill of these birds settled to some food provided for 1 be Blackbirds
and Thrushes in our garden, and kept tbe starving pensioners, for whom the feast was intended, at bay
till their own hunger was appeased. It appears at all times a bold aud forward bird; its jaunty aud upright
mode of progression on a lawn at once proclaims the species, even if the clear and wcll-delined murkmgs on
the breast are not sufficient guide.
The note of this Thrush is wild and remarkably attractive, being frequently heard when every other songster