TURDIN^, 



THE FIELDFARE. 



TuRDUS PILARIS, Linneeus. 



The Fieldfare is one of the regular visitors to our islands, the date 

 of its arrival depending upon the autumnal temperature in those 

 northern regions of Europe which form its principal breeding-ground. 

 In Scotland and in eastern England its appearance has been re- 

 corded from the middle of September onwards, but on the west side 

 and in Wales it is usually later, often coinciding with the arrival of 

 the Woodcock. Every one must be familiar with the large flocks of 

 Felts, " Blue Felts," or " Felfers," which during the winter are 

 generally distributed throughout the United Kingdom, seeking their 

 food over the fields and pasture-lands during open weather, and 

 resorting to the berry-producing hedges when frost hardens or snow 

 covers the ground. In backward springs the Fieldfare remains 

 until the middle of May, and, exceptionally, till the beginning of 

 June ; but there is no proof that it has ever nested in this country. 



An irregular visitor to the Faeroes, it has straggled two or three times 

 to Iceland, and once even to the island of Jan Mayen, It breeds 

 abundantly in Scandinavia, Finland, Northern Russia, and Siberia 

 as far as the Lena ; in smaller numbers in Central Russia, the Baltic 

 provinces, and Poland ; and of late in Moravia, Bohemia, and 

 Bavaria ; while increasing colonies have established themselves in 

 Central Germany, especially near Halle on the Saale, and in Prussia. 



