FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



THE FIELDFAKE 



Tardus pilaris. 



O suggestive of hard weather 

 and the earlier expeditions of 

 the amateur gunner is the 

 appearance in our fields of the 

 Fieldfare that, as a writer re- 

 marks, the very mention of its 

 name conjures up reminiscences 

 of " frost in the air, and snow 

 upon the ground ." And there 

 are but few persons who have 

 ever been fond of the gun who 

 cannot recall their experience in 

 connection with this bird, espe- 

 cially in the days when want 

 of opportunity and means for- 

 bade the pursuit of nobler 

 game. 



The Fieldfare arrives in this 

 country later than any other of 

 our winter visitors, usually 

 about the middle of October or 

 the beginning of November. 

 It is fouud in all parts of 

 England, Scotland, Ireland, 



