THE liEDWING. 85 



ground remains neither frozen noi. snowed up, tlie open 

 meadows may be seen every where spotted with these birds, 

 but Avhen the earth becomes so hard as to resist their 

 efforts in digging up worms and gTubs, they repair to the 

 cliffs which border the sea-coast, where some sunny nook 

 is generally to be found, to woods in quest of berries, or to 

 the water-courses of sheltered valleys. At these times they 

 are mostly silent^ their only note, when they utter any, 

 being simple and harsh ; but in France they are said to 

 sing towards the end of February, and even in this country 

 they have been known to perch on trees in mild weather, 

 and execute a regular song. Towards the end of April or 

 beginning of May, they take their departure northwards, 

 where they pass the summer, preferring woods and thickets 

 in the vicinity of marshes. Mr. Hewitson states that 

 while he was travelling through Norway " the Redwing 

 was but seldom seen, and then perched upon the summit 

 of one of the highest trees, pouring forth its delightfully 

 wild note. It was always very shy, and upon seeing our 

 approach would drop suddenly from its height, and dis- 

 appear among the underv/ood. Its nest, which we twice 

 found with young ones (although our unceasing endeavours 

 to find its eggs were fruitless), was similar to that of the 

 Fieldfare. The Eedwing is called the jS'ightingale of 

 j^orway, and well it deserves the name." 



THE BLACKBIRD. 



TURDUS MERULA. 



Male : Plumage wholly black ; bill and orbits of the eyes orange yellow ; feet 

 black. Female : Upper plumage sooty brown ; throat pale brown with darker 

 spots ; breast reddish brown passing into dark ash brown ; bill and legs dusky. 

 Length ten inches ; breadth sixteen inches. Eggs gi'eenish grey, spotted and 

 speckled with light red brown. 



Much that has been said in praise of the Thrush will 

 apply equally well to the Bla(;kbird. With his glossy 



