60 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
The eggs are almost too well known to need 
description: they are generally rather larger than 
those of the Blackbird, but they vary in size as well 
in colour, the most usual colour being a dull 
greenish ground, which is much spotted with dull 
red and brown; in some the ground is of a reddish 
white. 
Frecprare, Turdus pilaris. The Fieldfare is a 
numerous and well-known winter visitor, generally 
arriving towards the end of October or beginning of 
November (my earliest note of the appearance of 
this bird is the lst of November), and departing 
about the middle or end of April, though occa- 
sionally it stays later: I have noted it myself as 
late as the 29th of April, and there are some notes 
in the ‘ Zoologist’ of its appearance in considerable 
numbers as late as the 18th of May, and rarely a 
bird has been seen even in July; these occasional 
instances are most probably birds which, either 
from wounds or some other accidental cause, are 
not able to accompany the migration of their com- 
panions, as the Fieldfare is seldom known to breed 
in England. Yarrell says a nest has been found in 
Kent, and others in Yorkshire and Scotland. 
The re-appearance of this bird has, in a few 
instances, also been noticed before the usual period 
as early as August or September. 
In very severe winters the Fieldfares leave us to 
go still further south; but occasionally, if the hard 
