20 THE BIRDS OF RAINHAM. 



morning till night. They suffer much in severe 

 weather which carries many off ; no bird would be 

 more missed than the Thrush ; I have always, I am 

 happy to say, one which has withstood the chills of 

 winter left in my garden to sing through the spring 

 and summer, and to share with me the fruits in my 

 garden. 



FIELDFARE. 

 Turdus pilaris, Linn. 



Some winters uncommonly plentiful, others very 

 scarce, this appears to depend on their immigration, 

 north or south ; I have known them some seasons to 

 arrive in continuous flights, one after another, in the 

 same direction all the day long, the last flight in the 

 dusk of the evening coming in contact with the 

 telegraph wires on our railway, where five were once 

 picked up at the same time ; they appear on this 

 occasion to have come by way of the Isle of Shep- 

 pey, taking a line parallel with the creeks towards our 

 lower orchards, and after topping them flying direct 

 for the woods, where they turned towards the west into 

 the country. Should they take a northern passage 

 across the sea, we see but few throughout the 

 winter. A cream coloured variety was shot Decem- 

 ber, 1878. 



REDWING. 

 Turdus iliacus, Linn. 



Comes in the autumn, the latter end of October, in 

 small numbers, feeds on our pasture land and in our 



