76 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



regularly near Memel in the extreme north-east of 

 Prussia, and that it occasionally nests in Germany. 

 East of the Urals the Redwing breeds in Northern 

 Siberia, probably from about lat. 60°, and extending 

 north beyond the limits of forest growth to at least lat. 

 ji"^ but becomes very rare east of the valley of the 

 Yenesay. 



Breeding habits : The Redwing arrives at its 

 breeding grounds in Scandinavia towards the end of 

 April or early in May. Further east in Northern Russia 

 where the springs are later it seldom arrives before the 

 middle of May ; whilst in Siberia it does not make its 

 appearance until the first week in June. The breeding 

 haunts of the Redwing are very similar to those of the 

 Fieldfare, indeed odd pairs of the present species may 

 frequently be found nesting within the limits of that 

 bird's colonies. Its favourite nesting places are the 

 more open parts of the pine and birch forests where the 

 trees are small, and separated by boggy ground into 

 scattered groves and clumps. Beyond the limits of 

 forest growth the Redwing breeds on the ground, 

 generally choosing a ridge or a sloping bank for the 

 purpose. It is not improbable that this Thrush pairs 

 for life, as the birds are much attached to certain spots 

 in the south and return to them yearly. Whether the 

 same breeding localities are used each summer no 

 naturalist appears to have taken the trouble to de- 

 termine. Although the Redwing is not so gregarious 

 in the breeding season as the Fieldfare, it is to a certain 

 extent social, and numbers of nests may be found 

 within a small area. The nest is usually placed in the 

 branches of a small fir or birch, or in bushes of alder 

 and willows, at a low altitude ; very often it is bui'.t at 

 the foot of the tree on the ground, and in treeless areas 

 on a fence, or on the ground. It is bulky and cup- 



