242 Short Commimkations : — 



fieldfare (as stated in VII. 144.); and it would be often mistaken 

 for the song thrush (which sometimes associates in flocks), and 

 vice versa, were it not for its frequently repeated alarm cry 

 (resembling powk), and the characteristic large pale streak 

 over the eye, similar to that — not of the stonechat, as stated 

 at p. 145., but — of the whinchat. 



In reply to Mr. Salmon (p. 175.), I can state, upon good 

 authority, that both the redwing and the fieldfare have been 

 repeatedly seen, throughout the summer, in a wood called the 

 Wood of Logie, upon the estate of Sir .John Forbes, at Fin- 

 try, in Aberdeenshire ; but I am sorry, still, to be unable to 

 furnish any description of their nidification. My informant, 

 an experienced observer, is quite positive with regard to the 

 species; but has never searched for their nests, not being 

 aware, at the time, that they were so little known. He 

 has heard the fieldfare sing, and as described by Dr. 

 Booker, (p. 151.) I may remark here, in corroboration of 

 Mr. Salmon's observation (p. 175.), that a flock of about forty 

 missel thrushes, which frequented this neighbourhood about 

 the latter end of last August, were very generally mistaken 

 for fieldfares ; although the great difference in their notes 

 rendered them easily distinguishable. That these were about 

 to migrate, I have hardly a doubt ; though a few solitary 

 missel thrushes have been singing about this place all the 

 winter. 



The flocks of redwings and fieldfares in these parts some- 

 times associate, and, occasionally, a few song thrushes may 

 be observed among them; but they more frequently keep 

 separate, the fieldfares remaining mostly in small parties of 

 five or six (probably families) ; three or four of which some- 

 times unite, but often separate again : in this, as in other 

 respects, closely resembling the missel thrush, which, in win- 

 ter, is generally seen in small flocks of five or six. The field- 

 fare farther resembles the missel thrush, in feeding more upon 

 berries than the redwing and mavis ; which latter birds, espe- 

 cially the mavis, appear to prefer snails to any other kind of 

 food ; knocking off their shells in a very expert manner, and 

 gulping them down whole. The blackbird is very partial to 

 snails ; but neither it nor the missel thrush (which latter is, 

 however, rather indifferent to them) understand how to shell 

 them like the redwing and song thrush ; but (at least in con- 

 finement, if the shell is not broken beforehand) generally 

 make a sad bungle, besmearing themselves all over with slime. 

 Instead of commencing operations by knocking off the shell, 

 they try to pull the snail out of it ; which, of course, they find 



