36 OUR IRISH SONG BIRDS. 



alike. The former may, however, always be distinguished 

 from the latter by the broad white stripe over the eye, 

 and by the bright reddish colour on the sides, and on 

 the under-wing coverts, which gives the bird its name. 



The Redwing is a gregarious bird, and may be seen 

 in large flocks, in much the same localities as the Field- 

 fare ; it is, however, the least shy of the Thrushes, and 

 may sometimes be found on the very confines of our 

 cities and large towns. In very cold weather I have 

 seen Redwings perching on trees just over the tram- 

 line which passed our gate, and, no doubt, ready to pick 

 up any food to be found on the road beneath. 



The Redwing does not breed in this country, and we 

 have not, for this reason, an opportunity of hearing its 

 renowned song. In more northern countries, however, 

 it has won the title of the " Swedish Nightingale ; " and 

 Linnaeus, in his Tour in Lapland, tells us that " the 

 amorous warblings of the Redwing, from the top of the 

 spruce fir, were delightful ; its high and varied notes 

 rival those of the Nightingale herself." Latterly, how- 

 ever, it has been said that this description is a good deal 

 exaggerated, and that the term " Swedish Nightingale " 

 is slightly ironical ; that the song is merely something 

 like the syllables, "tut, tut, tut," repeated in a descending 

 scale, and then followed by a kind of inward twittering 

 or warbling. This " inward warbling," or " twittering," 

 is the final part of the song, and may often be heard in 

 this country when the bird is preparing to depart in the 

 early spring. 



Some years ago I heard it in a soft and subdued 

 chorus from a number of Redwings near Castleknock, 

 Co. Dublin, and very delightful it seemed to me to be. 



