THE REDWING. 13 



In wooded districts the Redwing usually builds in bushes or low-growing 

 trees, but in more desolate regions a low fence, a hollow between stones, 

 or a sloping bank serve as a nesting-site. The nest itself is a neat structure 

 formed of plaited twigs, grass and reindeer-moss, plastered inside with mud or 

 clay, and lined with fine grasses and root-fibre. The number of eggs varies 

 from four to six, some writers giving the former, and some the latter, as 

 the usual number. In colour they are pale green, either finely and closely 

 streaked with reddish brown, like small specimens of some Blackbird's eggs, 

 or zoned with brown blotches; but, as with other Thrushes, eggs are some- 

 times found of a uniform green colour. 



When the nest is approached, but especially when it contains young birds, 

 the Redwing becomes much excited, flying angrily round the intruder and 

 snapping its bill after the manner of its kind. It frequently produces two 

 broods in a season. 



The food of the Redwing consists preferably of insects, worms and snails, 

 but when frost and snow deprive it of these it feeds on various berries, more 

 particularly those of the service tree and hawthorn ; it is distinctly more insectivorous 

 in its tastes than other Thrushes, nevertheless in confinement it thrives well 

 upon the same soft food. 



One winter a bird-catcher brought me a bag, containing six Redwings 

 and a Fieldfare which he had just caught. I would not, however, be persuaded 

 to take the whole of them, but, selecting two of the Redwings (which fortunately 

 proved to be a pair) and the Fieldfare, I sent the man away. The Red- 

 wings I turned loose in an unheated aviary with other British birds. At 

 first the new-comers were somewhat wild, but they soon settled down in 

 their new home. They never showed the slightest uneasiness at the season of 

 migration, as I had been informed they would do, but early in the year assumed 

 such rich colouring, that Naturalists who saw them in my aviary, expressed 

 astonishment at the beauty of their plumage. Very early the male began to 

 record his song, but usually in the morning only; in the evening its call- 

 note a soft plaintive whistle, which reminded me of that of the American 

 Blue-bird, was all that I heard at that time; later, however, he began to sing 

 out loud. 



As an aviary bird, I found the Redwing ornamental, and most inoffensive, 

 but by no means lively; it would sit in one place on the earth without 

 moving for half an hour at a time, still as a breathing statue a frog in 

 behaviour and appearance ; but, throw a spider or a smooth-skinned caterpillar 

 into the aviary, and, like that Batrachian, it was instantly alert. In spite of 



VOL. I. D 



