THE FIELDFARE. 69 



its congener the Turdus pilaris. "We are led to this opinion by 

 the fact that the female missel-thrush is very like the fieldfare in 

 plumage, and not very noticeably different in size. The nest 

 referred to by Mr. Fraser was, he says, situated in the fork of a 

 tree, about fourteen feet from the ground, exactly about the height 

 the throstle generally fixes upon for its nest, whereas, according to 

 our best authorities, the fieldfare builds at the top, or very near " the 

 top of the tallest pines." We give but little weight to the shape 

 and markings of the egg as described, for it frequently happens 

 that the eggs of different birds, even of the same species, differ in 

 a very remarkable manner. The hint, however, that the fieldfare 

 may sometimes breed in Scotland is worth attending to, and we 

 have marked it down for future inquiry and investigation. It was 

 for long a question of fierce debate whether or not the well-known 

 woodcock bred in this country. The matter has, however, been of 

 late years completely set at rest by the researches of naturalists, 

 clearly bringing out the fact that it not only breeds in Scotland, 

 but that such an event, instead of being rare, is, on the contrary, 

 of comparatively frequent occurrence. This very season, about the 

 middle of May,, one of Ardgour's keepers brought us the wings of 

 a young woodcock, with the quill feathers still pulpy and soft, 

 which, of the original bird, was all he could secure from the clutches 

 of a hawk that was breakfasting on the dainty morsel in the woods 

 of Coirrechadrachan. We also understand that at least two wood- 

 cock's nests, with eggs in them, were known to some parties in 

 this neighbourhood at the beginning of the season. It is, therefore, 

 possible that the fieldfare may yet be proved to breed in Scotland, 

 but the evidence for the establishment of such a fact must be much 

 stronger than that brought forward by Mr. Fraser. 



