THE NIGHTINGALE OF NORWAY. 161 



on each side, and more elongated and paler spots on the 

 lower parts of the body. Parks and pleasure-grounds that 

 are ornamented with clumps of trees are the favourite 

 resorts of this Thrush while it remains in Britain ; it resorts 

 to the pasture-lands and moist meadows for food, which 

 consists chiefly of worms, snails, and other soft-bodied 

 animals. It is less inclined to feed on berries than most 

 of its congeners; and therefore in severe weather, when 

 animal food is difficult to obtain, suffers more than they 

 do. Only on two or three occasions has the nest of the 

 Kedwing been found in this country. Morris says that it 

 is placed in the centre of a thorn or other bush, alder, birch 

 or other tree, and is made of moss, roots and dry grass out- 

 wardly, cemented together with clay and weeds ; inwardly 

 with finer grass. The eggs, six in number, are of a pale 

 blueish green, spotted with reddish brown. 



Mr. Willson states that in Sweden this bird builds in 

 moist woods in June, and that the eggs are six in number, 

 blue spotted with black. Mr. Hewitson tells us that in 

 Norway, * The Redwing is but seldom seen, and then 

 perched upon the summit of one of the highest trees, pour- 

 ing forth its delightfully wild note. It was always very 

 shy, and upon seeing our approach would drop suddenly from 

 the height, and disappear amongst the underwood. Its nest, 

 which we have found with young ones (although our un- 

 ceasing endeavours to obtain its eggs were fruitless) was 

 similar to that of the Fieldfare, but nearer the ground.' He 

 adds that the bird is called the Nightingale of Norway, and 

 well deserves the name. 



Linngeus, in his ' Tour in Lapland,' several times alludes 

 to the Redwing, * whose amorous warblings from the top of 

 the spruce fir were delightful. Its high and varied notes 

 rival those of the Nightingale himself.' Macgillivray de- 

 scribes the common note of the bird as a harsh scream ; 

 but then he says, ' I believe they never sing with us so as 

 to exert their whole vocal powers.' Of course not ; they 

 would do this only during the breeding season, which is 

 passed in more northerly countries. Like that of all Thrushes, 

 the flesh of this bird is excellent eating, and its flocks 



