REDWING. 



letter to him, dated the 23rd April, 1829, mentioned the 

 circumstance of the Redwing's breeding in Harris, one of 

 the Hebrides, where he had observed it in the preceding 

 summer." 



Monsieur Vieillot, the well-known French naturalist, 

 says the Redwing builds in trees in the environs of Dant- 

 zic. 



In Sweden, M. Nilsson states that this bird breeds in 

 moist woods in June, and that the eggs are six in number. 

 In Norway, Mr. Hewitson remarks that " the Redwing 

 was but seldom seen, and then perched upon the summit 

 of one of the highest trees, pouring forth its delightfully 

 wild note. It was always very shy, and upon seeing our 

 approach would drop suddenly from its height and disap- 

 pear amongst the underwood. Its nest, which we twice 

 found with young ones, was similar to that of the Field- 

 fare, but nearer the ground. The eggs are blue with pale 

 red specks. 



" The Redwing is called the Nightingale of Norway ; 

 and well it deserves the name." 



Linneus, several times in his Tour in Lapland, notices the 

 song of the Redwing, " whose amorous warblings from the 

 top of the spruce fir were delightful. Its high and varied 

 notes rival those of the Nightingale herself." A Redwing 

 in the new aviary at the Zoological Gardens, sung con- 

 stantly during the spring of 1852, with a fine rich voice. 



During summer the Redwing advances even further 

 north than the Fieldfare, visiting the Faroe Islands and 

 Iceland ; it is found also in Russia ; but it leaves these 

 northern countries as winter approaches and extends its mi- 

 gration over central Europe as already mentioned. 



The beak is brownish black, except at the base of the 

 under mandible, where it is pale yellow brown ; the top of 

 the head, the upper surface of the neck, the back, rump, 



