6 REDWING. 



Poland, Austrian Galizia, and even in Anhalt near the Harz Moun- 

 tains. In our islands there is no satisfactory proof that this species 

 has ever bred, although individuals have been known to linger 

 throughout the summer ; and the late Dr. Saxby asserted that in 

 May, 1S55, he watched a Redwing brooding on four eggs in North 

 Wales, but the bird was not obtained. Nor has it been proved to 

 breed in the Orkneys or the Shetlands ; but its nest has been found 

 by Herr Miiller in the Faeroes, which are annually visited on its 

 migrations to and from Iceland. There the Redwing is generally 

 distributed during the short summer, being the only Thrush which 

 breeds in that island ; whence it occasionally straggles to Greenland. 



In Norway, where owing to the Gulf stream the climate is com- 

 paratively warm, the Redwing sometimes breeds early in May, but 

 elsewhere later. In the forest-region the nest is placed on bushes 

 or low trees, and a colony of Fieldfares will frequently have a nest or 

 two of Redwings on the outskirts ; but in the barren districts, sloping 

 banks, hollows between stones, and low fences are selected. The 

 structure is composed of twigs and earth, lined with dried grasses, 

 and is frequently ornamented externally with lichens, especially 

 reindeer-moss. The eggs, generally 6, are of a peculiar and 

 evanescent green, closely streaked with fine reddish-brown, resem- 

 bling small varieties of the eggs of the Blackbird, but without the 

 bold markings of those of the Fieldfare : average measurements 

 •98 in. by 75 in. Two broods are frequently reared in the season. 

 The parents show great anxiety when the nest with young is ap- 

 proached, snapping their bills angrily as they flutter round the head 

 of the intruder. The song, which has been much, and perhaps 

 unduly eulogized, consists of several clear flute-hke notes which 

 may be syllabled as tnii, tr?n\ trui, tritritri. The food consists of 

 insects, small snails, and berries, but to the latter the Redwing 

 seems to be somewhat less addicted than are its congeners. Its 

 flight is remarkably rapid. 



Male : upper parts clove-brown ; wing-feathers rather darker, with 

 paler edges ; over the eye a conspicuous whitish streak ; under 

 parts dull white, broadly streaked with dark brown on the throat, 

 breast and part of the flanks, the inner portion of the latter 

 being of a rich orange-red ; under wing-coverts and axillaries 

 somewhat paler. Bill dark brown above, lighter at lower base ; 

 legs pale brown. Total length about 875 ; wing 4-4 in. Female: 

 slightly duller than the male. Young : spotted on both upper and 

 under parts, and, after the first autumn moult, with well-defined pale 

 tips to the wing-coverts. 



