30 BIRDS OF CHESHIRE. 
bearing trees for food. In the winter of 1889-90, when 
even the deeper meres were icebound before Christmas, 
hunger drove the Redwings to the populated districts. 
In Bowdon they came day after day to some hollies 
bordering a frequented thoroughfare within a few feet 
of the house windows. When the trees were stripped 
the birds devoured the berries which they had at first 
wastefully allowed to fall. In a fortnight trees and 
ground alike were bare, but the birds still came, 
hungry and dejected, and only disappeared when the 
thaw set in. 
FIELDFARE. 
TURDUS PILARIS, Linnzus. 
Blueback, Kit. 
The Fieldfare, one of our best-known autumn visitors, 
does not arrive in Cheshire until some weeks after its 
appearance on the east coast. Its numbers fluctuate 
considerably: in some seasons scarcely one will be 
seen, but as a rule the birds may be observed through- 
out the winter frequenting the open fields in small 
parties. They often consort with Starlings, but unlike 
them, roost at night upon the bare ground. These flocks 
may often be seen perched in the topmost branches of 
some high tree, all the birds facing in one direction. 
The low-lying country of the Mersey Valley between 
Stockport and Warrington is a favourite haunt of the 
Fieldfare, though it appears to be equally at home on 
the bleak hill-pastures of the Derbyshire border. Prior 
to their departure for the northern breeding-grounds, 
the small parties pack together in large flocks, the 
majority of which leave by the end of April, although 
it is not unusual to see late birds during the first 
fortnight in May. 
