326 THE THRUSH FAMILY 



and rump the young fieldfare may readily be distinguished from the young of any 

 other thrush, [w. P. P.] 



2. Distribution. In Europe it breeds in Scandinavia, Russia south to 

 Poland, in Germany commonly in E. Prussia and in Silesia, Bavaria, etc., 

 Bohemia, Galicia, and in small numbers in Hungary. Also in Asia east to the 

 river Lena. [F. c. R. jr.] 



3. Migration. Apart from purely exceptional occurrences, the fieldfare is 

 only a winter visitor and a bird of passage in the British area. Its autumn arrival 

 and spring departure are both rather later, on an average, than those of the red- 

 wing. A few fieldfares may be recorded soon after mid-September, usually near 

 their points of arrival on our shores. No very marked immigration occurs till the 

 middle of October, however. From then till mid-November a steady influx takes 

 place, usually punctuated by one or more great " rushes." The arrival takes place 

 on the east of Great Britain from Shetland to Norfolk. From the south-westerly 

 line of flight of these individuals, and from the distribution of the species, it is evident 

 that Scandinavia, and especially Norway, is the home of most of our fieldfares. 

 The majority of the earlier flocks are composed entirely of young birds. The 

 immigrants quickly spread overland throughout our area, and some, the birds of 

 passage, at once pass beyond it across the Channel. Other birds of passage perhaps 

 never do more than " coast " along our eastern seaboard before flying farther south. 

 A certain further number arrive on our northernmost shores to pass down the 

 west coast of Scotland. By this route probably come most of the fieldfares that 

 are winter visitors to Ireland, as well as those which are birds of passage along 

 both shores of the Irish Sea. The latter quit our shores for the most part between 

 the Scilly Isles and the Eddystone. No immigration of any importance occurs 

 after mid-November, but severe winter weather later on causes a fresh influx to 

 the low-lying coast districts. This is not from overseas, as might be supposed 

 by the coast observer, but from the higher grounds inland, which the fieldfares 

 resort to soon after their arrival. Continued hard weather drives the birds 

 farther south, even to beyond the confines of our area. The return immigration 

 and passage begin towards the end of March, and sometimes last into early May. 

 The first birds of passage to arrive must linger for a short time in our islands, for 

 the north-easterly emigration and continued passage do not set in till early in 

 April : they regularly last into the first week of May. Similar return movements 

 occur along the less important western routes. The fieldfare is a markedly gre- 

 garious migrant : " flocking " is usually noticeable before the spring departures, 



