260 TURDIDÆ.
very easily discovered by any passer-by. The eggs measure
from l -39 to 1’04 by from -9 to ‘81 in., and are four or five
in number, of a greenish-white, blotched, spotted or suffused
with red-brown and dull reddisli-lilac ; sometimes the
ground-colour is reddish-white, with dark markings. Two
broods are produced in the year, and during autumn and
winter the birds keep in small parties, probably composed of
members of the same family.
Authors have accused the Mistletoe-Thrush of killing the
young of other birds ; but it seems to act differently in
France. There, according to M. Yian (Eev. de Zool. 1865,
p. 132), wherever this Thrush builds its nest a Chaffinch
will do the like, either on the same tree or one close by, and
lie explains the object of this strange association to be the
mutual protection of each from the attack of Pies ; for, on
the approach of one of those pillagers, the Chaffinch raises
a cry of alarm, whereupon the Thrush darts like an arrow
on the invader and drives him away.
The flight of the Mistletoe-Thrush is rapid, but performed
by a succession of jerks. Its food consists of
worms, slugs and snails ; some fruit in the season ; and,
when they can be found, berries of all sorts, including those
of the mistletoe,* whence it derives its most common name.
The Mistletoe-Thrush is now well known in all the coun-
* This fact was known to Aristotle, as his name {fyjfiopos) for the bird shews.
Dr. Prior, in his ‘ Popular Names of British Plants’ (p. 153)'gives the derivation
of Mistletoe, or its Old-English equivalent, Mistiltan, “ from mistl, different, and
tan, twig, being so unlike the tree it grows upon ” ; but the two learned friends
who supplied the substance of the last note think mistl to be an unusual contraction
of the unusual form mistlic, which is a corruption of mislic (unlike),
while the Doctor’s derivation, taken from Bosworth, is contradicted by the use of
the t in the Old High-German Mistil (mistletoe). This last, clearly the origin
of the first part of the plant’s name, is probably from Mist, meaning dirt or
obscurity. The idea of dirt, from the viscosity of the berries, is most likely that
which is here attached to the word ; but it may refer to Mist, one of thé goddesses
of fate in the Northern mythology, and in this sense Mistletoe would signify
“ twig of fate,’’ in connection with which there is a story in Snorri’s ‘ Edda’
(chap. 49). Tan, it may be observed, still survives in English as the “ tine ’ of
a fork or of a stag’s antler. Anyhow it would seem that the proper name of
this bird should be written in full “ Mistletoe-Thrush,” and not, as commonly,
‘ ‘ Missel-Thrush. ”
MISTLETOE-TI I RU S11.
ties of England and Wales, though there is good evidence
that an hundred years ago it did not occur in several parts
of the country, particularly towards the north.* The like
has been observed in Ireland and Scotland. In the first,
Thompson states that it is a resident species pretty generally
distributed over wooded districts, adding that the
“ remarkable feature in the history of this bird, is its
absence from the country until of late years, and its rapid
increase from the period of its first appearance,” which is
said to have been in the year 18001, at Eedhall in Antrim.
Soon after it bred in the county of Down, and in 1807 in
Louth. In 1832 it was common and resident in the northwest
of Donegal, and in 1839 it had appeared and was
increasing in Galway, while it had also become common in
Tipperary. One killed in Cork in 1818 was considered an
extraordinary rarity, and in Kerry the species was first seen
in 1827. Similar evidence is given from other counties, hut
enough has been cited to shew that this species has not only
been an invader of hut a successful settler in Ireland. As
to Scotland, Mr. E. Gray states that there has been a gradual
increase in its numbers throughout the country during the
last thirty years. “ So recently” , he adds, “ as 1830, it was
rather an unusual circumstance to find a Missel Thrush
breeding in any locality north of the Tweed. Now however
it is very common almost everywhere, extending, as I am
informed by Mr. Brown, to the counties of Sutherland,
Eoss and Caithness.” In both kingdoms it is said that at
first its breeding-haunts were confined to the more sheltered
spots, but that it gradually spread from them over the
plantations generally. Messrs. Baikie and Heddle mention
that this species occurs in Orkney after strong easterly gales,
but it does not appear to have been yet obtained in Shetland.
* For instance it has been said that when at the end of the last century
Bewick wished to figure this species among his inimitable woodcuts, he, living at
Newcastle-on-Tyne, had some difficulty in procuring a specimen. If the story
be true, the species must soon after have appeared there, for the Editor is informed
by Mr. John Hancock that he knew of a nest in the town fifty years ago.
t Or even not until 1808 (B. Ireld. iii. p. 436).