14 BRITISH BIRDS, WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 



its beauty I should imagine that the Redwing, if kept in a cage, would be 

 intolerable; after two years I wearied of my pair, and sold them for a small 

 sum to a friend, who immediately entered them for a show and carried off 

 a first prize with them. Poor Redwings! I fear that their life after they 

 left my home was not an enviable one. 



Although the breeding of the Redwing in Great Britain needs confir- 

 mation, there seems to be no reason why it should not be possible, inasmuch 

 as it has been proved that stragglers have remained with us throughout the 

 summer. It has been known to nest in the Faroes. 



Family TURDID/E. Subfamily TURDIN^.. 



THE FIELDFARE. 



Tiirdus pilaris, 1/ixx. 



RESPECTING the Geographical distribution of this species, one cannot do 

 better than quote Seebohm, he says: "A regular winter visitant to the 

 British Islands, the Fieldfare is commonly distributed over the cultivated 

 districts, and as far on the uplands as the mountain farms extend. The 

 arrival of Fieldfares in Scotland is usually noticed first in the eastern counties, 

 as it is quite natural to expect it would be, for their path in autumn is 

 south and south-westwards. A few birds are said to be found on the Orkneys 

 throughout the year, but they do not breed there. On the Hebrides the Fieldfare 

 does not arrive till mid-winter, and is only found on the farms and pastures 

 in the little oases of cultivated land so sparingly scattered amongst the wide- 

 stretching moorland wastes. In Ireland these birds also arrive late, and are 

 found commonly distributed over those districts suitable to their habits and 

 needs the cultivated tracts. Fieldfares have been said to have bred in the 

 British Islands; but until definite proofs are forthcoming it is not safe to admit 

 the truth of the statement, the .birds being very liable to be confounded with 



