218 MERULIM. 



observed that the Redwings are unable to bear hard weather 

 so well as the Fieldfares. While in this country, the Red- 

 wings inhabit parks and pleasure-grounds that are orna- 

 mented with clumps of trees ; and, like the Thrush, which 

 they most resemble in external appearance, they seek their 

 subsistence in mild and open weather in pasture lands and 

 moist meadows, feeding principally on worms, snails, and 

 other soft-bodied animals. They are much less inclined to 

 feed on berries than most of the other species of this genus ; 

 and should the resources usually obtained by their search 

 on the ground be closed against them by long-continued 

 frost and snow, the Redwings are the first among birds to 

 suffer, and during some severe seasons, such as 1799, 1814, 

 and 1822 } hundreds have been found almost starved, alike 

 unable to prosecute their journey further south to more 

 congenial countries, or to bear the rigour of this. 



It is worthy of notice, as an instance in the economy of 

 nature, that many birds feed without hesitation or prejudice 

 on berries that are said to be injurious to man. 



After the winter is over, during which the Redwings 

 frequently visit for a time the most southern parts of 

 Europe, namely Sicily and Malta, and were seen by Mr. 

 Strickland at Smyrna, they return in flocks to the more 

 central portions, where they remain till the gradual advance 

 of the season induces them to continue their journey north- 

 ward. Mr. Blyth has seen and heard them in Surrey, Mr. 

 Doubleday in Essex, and Mr. Williamson in Yorkshire, as 

 late as the month of May ; and White of Selborne remarks, 

 that one very cold and backward season they lingered in 

 Hampshire till June. An instance is recorded of the nest 

 of this bird being taken near Barnet, in Middlesex ; another 

 has occurred near Godalming, in Surrey. A few Redwings 

 have been observed to remain all the summer in Aberdeen- 

 shire ; and Dr. Fleming states, that " Mr. Bullock, in a 



