TURDUS, Lin. &c. THRUSH.
Bill middle-sized, sharp-edged; tip compressed and re curved ; tipper mandible notched near the point, detached hairs at the opening of the mandibles ; nostrils basal, ovoid, lateral, half concealed by a naked membrane; tarsus longer than the middle toe, to which last the outer is united at the base.
Most of the species live principally on insects, especial ly during the breeding season, but they are also very fond of berries. They migrate in large flocks, whilst others are sedentary, especially in the south of Europe. Many of them have been remarked for their warbling strains, and most of them are reckoned delicate eating.
T. viscivorus, Lin. &c. JIissel. JI,ssrl Bird. or Missel Thrush, Prov. Throttle-Cock, Screech-Thrush, Hobo Thrush, Misseltoe- Thrush, &c. Grey-brown above, whit ish-yellow beneath ; varied with dusky spots, the three outer tail-feathers tipt with white. Quill and tail-feathers brown, with pale edges; legs yellow. and claws black. The female is somewhat lighter coloured above, and inclining to rufous beneath. The bird varies with more or less of white, and with brown, or rufous ash spots. It is the larg est of the European thrushes, weighing five ounces, and measuring eleven inches in length, and sixteen and a half in extent of wing. It inhabits Europe as far northward as Norway, and is common in Russia. but not found in Sibe ria. In most of the temperate parts of it is part ly migratory, and partly stationary. We gladly welcome it as one of the first heralds of spring; for, in the fine days of February, the male, perched on the top of a lofty tree, warbles in a strain of sweetly varied notes, and which, though strong, are generally admired. If the weather happens to prove mild, it will even begin to sing in Janu ary, but ceases as soon as the thermometer sinks below forty degrees ; its voice, however, is often heard in windy and showery weather, whence, in Hampshire snd Sussex, the people call it the Storm-cock or Storm fowl. When disturbed or agitated, it utters a shrill grating scream, which is its usual note in autumn and winter, and is the same with that of the female. The pairing takes place in January, and continues during the breeding season. About the middle of March, the female makes a nest in the fork of a tree, especially if overgrown with lichen, sometimes on a lofty ash, but more frequently on one of moderate height, particularly an apple tree, in an orchard, or gar den, constructing the fabric of white moss and coarse grass, interwoven with earth, outwardly fortified with pieces of stick, and lined with fine grass, hair, or wool. The number of eggs rarely exceeds four or five ; and they are flesh-coloured, with dark and rust-coloured spots. The
male shares the duties of incubation, but ceases his song when the young are hatched. Both parents feed the lat ter with caterpillars, small worms, slugs, and snails, of which last they break the shells. After this first brood, they frequently have a second, when all the family unite, and vegetable food, as berries, cherries, grapes, he. are superadded to their diet. To these, in winter, succeed the berries of the juniper, holly, ivy, buckthorn, and, above all, of the misseltoe, from which they have their name. As these berries are frequently propagated after passing through the bird, it was believed in ages of ignorance, that this was the only mode in which the plant was disseminat ed : and hence the proverb, Turdus malum sibi cucat. If the young are taken away, the male continues his song as before ; and, if his mate be snatched from him, he is tune ful all summer. The missel thrush is very bold during the breeding season, driving other birds from the neighbour hood of the nest, and even attacking the magpie and jay. Montbeillard, strangely enough, applauds the pacific and harmonious dispositions of these birds ; whereas they arc very quarrelsome, and often fight with one another, either for food or a companion; nor do theiecombats, which are urged with great obstinacy, cease; until the weakest have relinquished the object of contention, and the haunts of the conquerors. Such of them as settle in orchards, are vigi lant sentinels to the poultry, warning them of the approach of birds of prey, nay, seeming to take under their protec tion all the small birds which breed in their neighbour hood; for, if the kestril, sparrow-hawk, raven, magpie, or jay, appears within their purlieus, the males announce the enemy's presence by their cries of alarm, in winch they are instantly joined by the indignant clamour of the fe males, when a legion of smaller birds, especially of finches, accompany them, in pursuit of the invader, and put him to flight. Being shy and wary, these thrushes are not easly caught in snares. In order to have them properly tamed, they should be taken from the nest when fledged, and fed, for some time, on crumbs of bread, soaked in water, and mixed with the yolk of eggs ; and when they can feed themselves, they should be served with worms, snails, va rious sorts of berries, bruised apples, Ste. Their song is louder than that of the throstle, but far inferior in harmo ny. Their flesh, too, is less in request than that of several of their congeners, especially when they happen to be re stricted to the berries of the northern countries. In default of these, they have sometimes recourse to the roots of plants, particularly to those of .drum maculatum, or Lords and Ladies.