are often left in a fit state for germination on the fruit-trees, where this handsome parasite soon grows with a goodly bough. Nor is the plant confined to fruit-trees, for it may be seen also on the thorn, maple, poplar, hazel, lime or ash, and sometimes, though very rarely, on the oak. It is very ornamental with its pale green leaves and pearly berries to our woods in winter, but in many parts of the continent, as in France, it is much larger, and indeed almost covers the trees on which it springs. The berries constitute a good portion of the food of our bird; but the misselthrush eats also those of the ivy, holly, or yew, besides various insects, worms, slugs, and snails. It is not a great depredator of our gardens, though it sometimes eats a few cherries and raspberries; and the fruits of the mountain ash are invariably borne away, if these songsters are to be found in their neighbourhood.

Mudie remarks that there is in our familiar appellation, a sort of double naming in the plants and the birds. Thus the latter is called misselthrush, because it missels (soils) its toes with the slime of the berry; while the name of the misseltoe refers to its soiling the toes of the bird.

All the sweet singing of our woods is performed by small birds, for to large birds have been denied the powers of song. The missel-thrush is not only the largest of its genus, but is also the largest of all our songsters. It is a very bold, quarrelsome bird, but like some warm-tempered persons, it is not destitute of the affectionate feelings which win our regard. Thus Gilbert White remarks: "It is, while breeding, fierce and pugnacious, driving such birds as approach its nest with great fury to a distance. The Welsh call it Penn-clywn, the head or master of the coppice. He suffers no magpie, jay, or blackbird to enter the garden where he haunts, and is for the time a good guard to newly sown legumes. In general, he is very successful in the defence of his family; but once I observed in my garden, that several magpies came, determined to storm the nest of a missel-thrush : the parents defended their mansion with great vigour, and fought resolutely, pro aris et focis; but numbers at last prevailed; they tore the nest to pieces, and swallowed the young alive.”

These magpies are cruel enemies of many of the smaller birds, and in spring, seem to keep up perpetual warfare with the thrushes. Thus Mr.

might observe it; sometimes, however, the little builder exerts much ingenuity in finding such materials for the outer portion of the nest, as might mislead by their similarity to the branch on which it is placed.

The missel-thrush is usually a wild and wary bird, shunning the dwellings of man, though, during the period of incubation, it seems fearless of all danger. It is not uncommon in any part of our island, but is not anywhere so plentiful a bird as is the common thrush. During the months of August and September, the missel-thrushes seem to assemble in numbers, but they are not migratory birds.

Who has not paused in his ramble through the woods on some bright warm spring day, to listen to the mellow notes of the Blackbird? (Turdus merula.) Perchance we have taken shelter beneath the boughs on which the delicate green leaves are daily becoming larger and more numerous, from the shower which alternates with the sunshine, and then as the gleams of the sun come forth again to render that foliage of brightest emerald hue, the blackbird sings its welcome in the sweetest strains. An April day suits it well, for it revels in the