MISSEL THRUSH.
Y DRESGLEN. PENN Y L L W Y N . CRECER, OF T H E A N C I E N T B R I T I S H.
MISSI.ETOE T H R U S H . STORM-COCK. M I S S E L - B I R D . SIIRITE.
S H R I K E - C O C K . HOLM T H R U S H.
Tardus vùcivorus, LINNJEUS. LATHAM.
Merula viscivora, SELBY.
Tardus—A Thrush. Viscivorus. Vt'scus—The misseltoe. Voro—To devour.
T H I S bird is a native of Europe, being found in Russia and
Scandinavia generally, as also in Germany, France, Thuringia, and
Italy; in Holland it is rare. It moves to the centre of tbe continent
from both extremes in the winter.
I n England it is plentiful in all parts of the country.
In the south of Scotland it is not uncommon, but in the central
parts it is very rare, and in the extreme north entirely unknown.
In Ireland it is also generally distributed. Also in the Channel
Islands.
In the Orkney Islands it is said in Anderson's ' G u i d e to the Highlands
and Islands of Scotland/ to make its appearance occasionally
after strong easterly gales.
In winter these birds, at all times permanently resident as a species,
seem more numerous than at other seasons, so that it is thought that
then numbers are added to by arrivals from more northern countries,
such migration occurring towards the end of October.
They certainly are of a pugnacious, not to say of a predatory disposition,
and are accordingly objects of dislike and assault to many of
their feathered neighbours; they are also quarrelsome one with another.
Nevertheless the members of the family keep together with their
parents, and towards the approach of winter several broods collect
together, and forage in parties. They are then frequently seen in