BIRDS OF THE GARDENS 29 



Observation. — Distinguish from last by absence of 

 white forehead splash, and conspicuous white wing-patch 

 absent in Redstart. 



Plumage. — Upper parts slate-grey. Forehead, face, 

 throat, and breast black paling into grey on belly. 

 Wings brown, with conspicuous white patch. Rump 

 and tail chestnut. Bill and legs black. Length 5|in. 

 Female fuller colouring ; upper parts smoky brown. 

 Young, like female. 



Language. — Song, simple and short, but rich in tone. 

 Call-note a low "sit." Alarm-note, " tek." 



Habits. — Not unlike the Robin in the way it stoops 

 its head and jerks its tail. 



Food. — Insects and their larvae, spiders, beetles, 

 small Crustacea and small soft fruits. 



Nidification. — It may stay to breed here occasionally. 

 It rather resembles the Robin, but the five to six eggs 

 are white, occasionally minutely dotted with brown. 



FIELDFARE or FELT [Turdus pilaris). 



October to May. Generally distributed. 



Haunts. — Meadows and fields ; roosting in trees. 



Observation. — Might be confounded with Missel Thrush 

 but is smaller, and the grey rump, contrasted with 

 dark wings and tail, is conspicuous, as is also the white 

 belly. 



Plumage. — Head, nape and rump slate-grey. Mantle 

 chestnut-brown. Throat and breast golden brown 

 streaked with black. Flanks marked with deep brown. 

 Belly and under wing-coverts white, conspicuous in 

 flight. Bill yellowish. Legs dark brown. Length 10 in. 

 Female less bright. Young spotted above and below. 



