200 MERTJLID.E. 



in Harris, one of the Hebrides, where he had observed it in 

 the preceding summer/"' 



Monsieur Vieillot, the well-known French naturalist, says 

 the Redwing builds in trees in the environs of Dantzick. 



In Sweden, M. Nilsson states that this bird breeds in 

 moist woods in June, and that the eggs are six in number, 

 blue, spotted with black. In Norway, Mr. Hewitson re- 

 marks that " 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 disappear amongst the underwood. Its nest, 

 which we twice found with young ones, (although our un- 

 ceasing endeavours to obtain its eggs were fruitless,) was 

 similar to that of the Fieldfare, but nearer the ground. 



" The Redwing is called the Nightingale of Norway ; and 

 well it deserves the name." 



Linneus, several times in his Tour in Lapland, notices the 

 song of the Redwing, " whose amorous warblings from the 

 top of the spruce fir were delightful. Its high and varied 

 notes rival those of the Nightingale herself." 



During summer the Redwing advances even farther north 

 than the Fieldfare, visiting the Faroe Islands and Iceland ; 

 it is found also in Russia ; but it leaves these northern 

 countries as winter approaches, and extends its migration 

 over central Europe, including this country and the whole 

 of Ireland, visiting Spain, Provence and Italy, and, as has 

 already been mentioned, was seen by Mr. Strickland at 

 Smyrna. 



The beak is brownish black, except at the base of the 

 under mandible, where it is pale yellow brown ; the top of 

 the head, the upper surface of the neck, the back, rump, 

 upper tail-coverts and tail-feathers, uniform clove-brown ; 

 wing-feathers a shade darker, but with lighter-coloured ex- 



