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. 



