222 THE SMALLER BRITISH BIRDS. 



black. The chin and throat are pale reddish yellow, streaked with 

 black. The upper part of the breast is light yellowish red above, and 

 almost white below, spotted with brownish black. The female closely 

 resembles the male, but is a little smaller. 



THE REDWING, 



[Tiirdiis i/iaais.) 



PLATE XIV.— FIQDEE VI. 



Like the Fieldfare, the Redwing is a winter visitor to our shores 

 from the northern and north-eastern parts of Europe. It arrives, 

 however, somewhat earlier, being frequently seen in Scotland by the 

 middle of October. The end of April or the beginning of May is 

 usually the time of its departure, but in very backward seasons it has 

 been known to remain till June. The British Isles are by no means 

 the southern limit of the winter wanderings of the Redwing, for it 

 finds its way into France, Spain, and Italy, and has been seen by 

 Mr. Strickland in Smyrna. 



In different parts of Britain this species is known by the names 

 of the Red-sided Thrush, the Wind Thrush, and the Swinepipe. In 

 form and colour it bears a strong resemblance to the Common Thrush, 

 but it is a little smaller, and has a white streak over the eye, which 

 in that bird is wanting. Its whole length is about eight inches and 

 three quarters. The top of the head, hind neck, back, and tail, are 

 dark olive brown. The sides are bright reddish orange. The chin 

 and throat are dull white; the breast is greyish white spotted with 

 brown. 



In this country the Redwings, like the Fieldfares, are to be met 

 with in large flocks, which disperse during mild weather over the 

 pasture-lands and moist meadows in search for worms and grubs. 

 When the ground is covered with snow or hardened by frost, they 

 betake themselves to the hedges and feed on the berries of the 

 holly and the hawthorn. Should the cold weather be of long con- 

 tinuance, these birds are among the first to suffer. In the severe 

 winters of 1799, 1814, and 1822, many perished, and hundreds wei'e 



