154; SHOOTING. 



The bill is dark brown, the eyes a deep bazcl, and tbe plumage in 

 general is similar to that of the thrush, A white streak runs over 

 the eye wliich distinguishes it from that bird. The belly is not 

 quite so much spotted, and the sides of the body, and the general 

 mass of feathers under the wmgs, are tmged with a lively red, 

 which constitutes its peculiar characteristic, and which confers 

 upon it its name. ^ _ 



These birds arrive in this country a little earlier than the field- 

 fares, and when the latter come they mingle freely together. They 

 frequent the same localities, live upon the same kind of food, and 

 are very sirailar to each other in their leading features. The red- 

 wing leaves in the sprmg, for wMch reason their song is not 

 known to us • but travellers tell us it is very harmonious and 

 sweet. The female builds her nest in low bushes or hedges, and 

 lays six eggs of a greenish blue colour, with small black spots 

 dotted upon them. 



We are told by historians that the Romans held the flesh of the 

 redwing in the highest estimation, and they kept thousands of 

 them together in aviaries, and fed them with a species of paste, 

 chiefly composed of bruised figs and flour, and on various other 

 kmds of food; all with a view to improve then- dehcacy. These re- 

 ceptacles were so contrived as to admit light barely sufficient to di- 

 rect them to food. Every object which could possil^ly remind the 

 birds of their former liberty was sedulously kept out of sight ; such 

 as the fields, the woods, the bkds, or whatever might disturb or 

 break in upon their memories, or impair their improvement. Under 

 this treatment, the redwing fattened to a great extent, was sold for 

 a high price, and was raised to the highest edible dignity 

 amongst this luxurious people. 



Be-wick tells us that a redwing was taken up, November 7, 17S5, 

 at six o'clock in the_ morning, which, on its approach to land, had 

 flown against the lighthouse at Tynemouth, and was so stunned 

 that it fell to the gTound and died soon after ; the light, it is con- 

 jectured, had attracted its attention. The same vrriter observes, 

 that whearedwuius appear on the eastern coast, they as commonly 

 announce the approach of the woodcock as does the arrival of the 

 wryneck that of the cuckoo in the south. 



The best time for shooting the red^ving is in hard frosty weather : 

 they are then more bold in maintaining their feeding grounds, and 

 collect besides in greater numbers. The sportsman should, how-' 

 ever, shelter himself as much as possible. At all times these birds, 

 set scouts to watch ; and on this account it requires considerable 

 art to get within range of them. 



_ The Fieldfare {Turdus Filarus, Linn.) is an interesting and beau- 

 tiful bird. It is about ten inches long. The bill is yellow, and 

 each comer of the mouth is furnished with a few black and bristly 

 hau's. The eye is light brown, and the head and back part of the 

 neck are of a light ashen hue ; the former spotted with black. The 

 cpverts of the wings are of a deep hoary brown, the rump ash- 



