THE FIELDFARE 
it chiefly subsists during its stay with us. At night 
these flocks usually resort to some shrubbery to roost, 
continuing to do so as long as they remain in the locality. 
Next to the Missel-Thrush the Fieldfare is the wildest 
and the wariest of the British Thrushes. ‘The flocks gene- 
rally pass from place to place at a good height, and the 
birds may be readily recognised by the white under the 
wings, which is very conspicuous during flight, and also 
by their harsh notes of sack-sack. Beyond these harsh 
call-notes and a series of low guttural notes often heard 
at the roosting-place or when the birds are feeding, the 
Fieldfare is silent. Its song is reserved for the breeding 
season in the Arctic regions, where it nests. During its 
stay with us the bird is chiefly a berry-feeder, but in 
summer it subsists on animal substances and fruit. It 
breeds in scattered colonies, making a nest very similar 
to that of the Blackbird, and its five or six eggs so closely 
resemble those of that species that they cannot be dis- 
tinguished. 
The adult Fieldfare has the general colour of the upper 
parts slate-grey, spotted on the head with black, and the 
back is chestnut-brown. ‘The wings and tail are brownish 
black ; the throat and breast are buffish brown ; the centre 
of the abdomen and the axillaries are white ; the throat and 
breast have black streaks, and the buff flanks are mottled 
with black. Bill yellow; tarsi and toes black; irides brown. 
Length about toinches. ‘The nestling is spotted on the 
upper parts. 
