144 TURDUS ILIACUS. 



Habits. — The Red-winged Thrush arrives in the northern 

 and eastern parts of Scotland in the end of October or the be- 

 ginning of November. The individuals remain in flocks during 

 the winter and spring, and in open weather resort to the fields, 

 where they search for worms and grubs. When on the ground, 

 the Redwing may be observed to stand for a while motionless, 

 its wings slightly drooping, its tail horizontal or a little raised, 

 until its attention is drawn by some symptom of life, when it 

 hops briskly up to the spot, and if it has observed an earth- 

 worm, it pecks with its bill until it obtains a hold of its prey, 

 which it drags forth, breaks into pieces, and swallows. It is 

 interesting to observe a flock of these birds scattered over a 

 meadow, all proceeding against the wind, some standing in the 

 observ^ant attitude characteristic of the genus, others hojDping 

 briskly towards the objects that have attracted their attention, 

 and here and there one vigorously attacking a worm, and 

 mining it out, or tugging it from the ground. It does not seem 

 to eat the animal of the common Helices, as the Song Thrush 

 does, nor does it resort to bushy places or under hedges, but 

 keeps in the open fields, avoiding the vicinity of walls. When 

 the ground is covered with snow, the Redwings betake them- 

 selves to the holly and hawthorn bushes, of which they eat the 

 fruits, and when these fail, should the frost continue, they settle 

 about brooks and springs in meadows. On such occasions they 

 are destroyed in great numbers, for although they fly off when 

 a shot is fired, they soon return. They are at all times shy and 

 suspicious, and under ordinary circumstances do not permit a 

 nearer approach than eighty or a hundred yards. 



Their common note is a rather harsh scream ; but in fine wea- 

 ther they often while perched on the trees sing in a very pleasing 

 manner, with a subdued voice ; but I believe they never sing 

 with us so as to exert their whole vocal powers. They fly in 

 loose flocks, sometimes mingling with the Fieldfares, and even 

 the Missel Thrushes, but only temporarily, for the flight of all 

 these species is somewhat different. When disturbed in a 

 field, they either perch on the neighbouring trees, or fly off to 

 a distance. Their flight is rapid, rather high, and little undu- 

 lated, being performed by series of flappings, with short inter- 



