FIELDFARE THRUSH. 109 



larks, pipits, and other birds that repose on the ground. Their 

 flight, which is easy and rather slow, is performed with little 

 undulation, by quickly repeated flaps of the wings, the bird 

 spreading out those organs, making about twelve short flaps, 

 and as it were intermitting one or more. In this manner 

 they proceed, uttering a kind of chuckling chirp, until they 

 arrive over a field on which they have a mind to settle, when 

 they perform several circling evolutions, and at length alight. 

 After settling, each is seen to stand still with its wings close, 

 but a little drooping, its tail slightly declined, and its head 

 elevated. It then hops rapidly a few steps forward, stops, 

 picks up a seed, an insect, or other article of food, and again 

 proceeds. They generally move in the same direction, always 

 facing the wind if it be high, and those in the rear, especially 

 if left far behind, fly up to the front. When alarmed, they all 

 stand still for a short time, some utter a low scream, and pre- 

 sently all fly off" to a distance, or alight on the tall trees in the 

 neighbourhood. There they sit gracefully on the twigs, with 

 their tails declined, and generally with their heads all directed 

 one way, unless they have settled for the purpose of resting or 

 amusing themselves after procuring a sufiiciency of food. In 

 fine weather they often enact a concert of long duration, which, 

 although their song is neither loud nor very melodious, is very 

 pleasant. When they are upon trees their attitudes resemble 

 those of the Blackbird ; but they do not frequent bushy places, 

 woods, or gardens, for the purpose of picking up snails, worms, 

 or larvae, but repair to the open fields and meadows, where it 

 is amusing to see them in calm weather hopping about in all 

 directions, stopping now and then to pick up their food, or to 

 look around them. In this respect they resemble the Song 

 Thrush, as well as the Redwing and Missel Thrush, with the 

 two latter of which they often temporarily associate. They 

 are very shy, seldom allowing a person to approach within a 

 hundred yards in an open field, although when on trees they 

 are somewhat less suspicious. In the former situation they 

 keep at a distance from the hedges or walls, and fly off in a 

 body ; but in the latter several individuals frequently remain 

 behind the main body, and may sometimes be shot. Of the 



