(550 PRACTICAL ORNITHOLOGY. 



visitor. I have a fine specimen, a male, killed several years 

 ago at Quomdon. It was in company with a flock of Field- 

 fares and Redwings. 



18. Red-hacked Shrike. Lanius Collurio. Not uncommon. A 

 summer visitor. Arrives about the middle of May. Breeds 

 with us, and commonly returns to the same locality to nestle, 

 selecting an old pollard crab, ash, or maple. Feeds on chaf- 

 fers and beetles. Departs in September. 



19. Spotted Flycatcher. Muscicapa Grisola. A regular sum- 

 mer visitor, arriving towards the 25th of May, and retiring 

 silently about the autumnal equinox. Nestles in holes of 

 walls, trees, and door-posts. Feeds on wing. 



20. Pied Flycatcher. Muscicapa luctuosa. Very rare. A 

 summer visitor. Chaplin has a young male, which he shot 

 in September, on a tree, on the banks of Grooby Pool. 



21. Water Ouzel. Cinclus europwus. Rare. Found some- 

 times upon the streamlets that rise in Charnwood Forest. 

 I do not think it breeds with us. 



22. Missel Thrush. Turdus viscivorus. Abundant, and per- 

 manently resident. Nestles early, in the fork or on the 

 horizontal branch of an apple, cherry, or jDcar tree, using 

 wool as one of its building materials. Very pugnacious 

 during the breeding season, and afterwards makes great 

 havoc among cherries, gooseberries, &c. In winter grega- 

 rious, and associates with other thrushes. 



28. Fieldfare. Turdus pilaris. A winter visitor, arriving 

 about the beginning of October, and departing in May, or 

 sometimes not until June. Feeds in meadows and pastures, 

 in winter associates with other Thrushes, and approaches 

 villages and towns to feast on the berries of the holly and 

 hawthorn. Roosts on the ground. 



24. Song Thrush. Turdus musicus. A permanent resident. 

 Abundant. Nestles very early in spring, commonly selects 

 the close-set hedge, thick hawthorn bush, holly, or fir tree. 

 Sings throughout the year, except in the moulting season, 

 and in very severe weather. 



25, Redwing. Turdus iliacus. A winter visitor^ coming in 

 September a few days before the Fieldfare. Very plentiful. 



