THE REDWING. 119 



the male^ and the spots are not so numerous nor so strongly- 

 marked ; but the sexes are very difficult to distinguish. 



In this country the Redwings make their appearance 

 in flocks about October^ and are to be frequently seen in 

 the company of Fieldfares, but they arrive on our shores 

 usually earlier than these last-named birds. At night, 

 they roost in hedges and copses, and during the day 

 frequent the open j)astures and fields, feeding upon 

 worms, beetles, and grubs ; they also, in hard weather, 

 feed readily on the berries of the hawthorn, privet, and 

 ivy. When these supplies fail the birds are reduced 

 to great extremities, and readily succumb to the severity 

 of winter. In Cornwall, the chasing of Redwings 

 (locally known as AVinnards) by the youthful rustics is 

 a recognised pastime in snowy weather, when their 

 feebleness is so extreme that they are easily run down 

 and secured. At these times the condition of their bodies 

 is pitiable, consisting literally of feathers and bones. 

 When in good order, however, they are excellent eating. 



The Redwing generally builds her nest in a tree — a 

 thorn, alder, birch, or occasionally a low bush, being 

 selected. The nest is made of dried grass, moss, and thin 

 roots, cemented with clay, and lined with bents of fine 

 grass ; about five eggs are laid, of a pale bluish-green, 

 spotted with reddish-brown. Isolated instances are upon 

 record of the Redwing having nested in Great Britain ; 

 but these are quite exceptional cases, and it may be safely 

 affirmed that the bird as a rule neither breeds nor sin^s 

 during its visits to our shores. 



The flight is tolerably rapid, and consists of a series of . 

 quick flappings of the wings, followed by somewhat sudden 

 undulations or descents towards the ground. The bird is 



