MERULID. 61 
weather comes on suddenly, many get too weak to 
recommence their journey southward, consequently 
dying of starvation. 
The food of the Fieldfare appears to consist 
chiefly of worms, the larve of insects, and other 
soft-bodied animals; also (especially in frosty 
weather) of berries: it does not, however, appear at 
any time, even when under severe pressure, to feed 
on snails.* 
“The nests (a hundred of which might be found 
in a very limited distance) are placed in the spruce 
fir, at heights from the ground varying from four to 
forty feet or upwards: they are made of the same 
materials and are much hke those of the Ring 
Ouzel.” t 
The Fieldfare is so well known that a very 
general description of it will be sufficient. The 
irides are hazel-brown; the beak dark horn at the 
tip, base yellow; the head and neck, as well as the 
rump and upper tail-coverts, bluish grey; there is a 
streak of light buff over the eye; back, scapulars 
and wing-coverts reddish brown, some of the feathers 
slightly tipped with bluish grey; throat and breast 
rich buff, streaked and spotted with black; belly 
white, spotted on the sides with black; under tail- 
* © Zoologist’ for 1865, p. 9534. 
+ * Notes ou the Ornithology of Norway,’ by Hewitson. 
— Magazine of Zoology and Botany, vol. ii., p. 309. 
G 
