366 THE THRUSH FAMILY 



leaves behind a want. Of the two, that of the mistle-thrush is the 

 finer; it is not indeed, as a rule, sufficiently appreciated. In one 

 respect it is, to the ears of some, superior to the song of the thrush 

 in that the strain is not broken up into phrases. It flows on easily 

 and continuously for several minutes together. 



The redwing and fieldfare are not heard at their best in our 

 Isles ; their finest efforts are reserved for the breeding season. But 

 during their stay with us both species may be heard, like starlings, 

 choiring in the tree-tops. Individual redwings have frequently been 

 heard uttering a low sweet continuous warbling before their 

 departure, which is said to form part of the love-song. The quality 

 of the latter has, according to the best observers, been exaggerated ; 

 it consists, after Howard Saunders, of a few clear flute-like notes, 

 which Naumann qualifies as melancholy and reminiscent of the 

 blackbird. It is followed by softer notes, perhaps those the bird is 

 heard practising before leaving our shores. The fieldfare's efforts to 

 express his love in song have met with even less commendation. 

 "Low, twittering and poor," is the judgment passed upon it by 

 Newton. Another authority, Dresser, damns it with faint praise : 

 " a rather pretty, low warble, constantly interrupted by the usual 

 harsh note." It is frequently begun when the bird is on the wing, 

 and completed after it has alighted. 



in 



Without merit in its song, the fieldfare is distinguished by 

 the fact that alone of its genus it nests in colonies. As many as 

 sixty nests have been found in three adjoining trees. 1 Colonies of 

 all sizes are met with, and sometimes solitary pairs. 2 When a 

 colony is disturbed birds fly about over the intruder with noisy 

 schretts ! and gheggs I very different from the familiar tcliack ! tchack ! 



1 ZoologiscJies Garten, 1881 (E. P. v. Homeyer). 



2 Naumann, Vogel Mitteleuropas, i. 215. 



