from whence it derives its most common name : the germination
of the seeds is accelerated by the warmth and moisture
of the body of the bird. The flesh of the Thrushes
generally is eatable ; and in some species it is excellent.
The Missel Thrush is well known in our southern counties
to the Land’s-end; it is found also in Wales, as has
been already noticed; and, according to Mr. Thompson,
though formerly rare in Ireland, it is now common and indigenous
to Ulster. North of London, it is found in Essex,
Suffolk, Norfolk, Yorkshire, Northumberland, Durham, and
probably all the midland counties; and, as observed by
Mr. Selby, this bird is rapidly increasing in numbers still
farther to the northward; but I do not find it quoted as
an inhabitant of the islands west or north of Scotland. It
nevertheless inhabits Scandinavia and Russia, but does not
reach Siberia. I t is found in Germany, France, Provence,
and Italy. In this country, and in the central portions of
Europe, the Missel Thrush is resident all the year; but
it leaves both Italy and Scandinavia during the winter.
The beak of this bird is dark brown; the under mandible
pale yellow at the base; the irides hazel; the top of the
head, and almost all the upper surface of the body, nearly
uniform clove brown : wings and wing-coverts umber brown ;
the latter broadly edged with wood-brown; the wing-feathers
with a narrow edge of the same colour; upper surface
of the tail-feathers umber brown ; the broad inner web of
each outside tail-feather with a patch of dull white; the
second feather on each side with a smaller patch at the tip ;
the tail slightly forked: all the under surface of the body
white, tinged with yellow, and covered with numerous black
spots; those on the front of the neck triangular in shape,
with one angle pointing upwards; the spots on the breast,
belly, and sides are round; under surface of the wings and
tail grey; tarsi and toes pale brown; the claws dark brown.
Males and females exhibit but little difference in size or
plumage.
The whole length of the adult bird is about eleven inches.
From the carpal joint to the end of the wing, five inches and
three-quarters; the first wing-feather only one inch long;
the second feather the same length as the fifth; the third and
fourth feathers equal, and the longest in the wing.
The young bird when about to leave the nest exhibits
a greater variety of markings on the upper surface of the
body than the parent birds ; the feathers on the head, neck,
upper part of the back, and smaller wing-coverts, have a
central stripe of buff, with a black spot at the tip ; those of
the greater coverts and tertials have broad external edges of
rich buff. On the under surface the chin is white ; the
other parts tinged with fawn colour, and marked with black
spots.