TrRDID.K — TIIK TiiursiiKs. »>:i 



^•> 



Turdus iliacus, Linn. 



BZDWIHO THBXJ8H. 



Tiirdna ilinnin, \.\ss. Syst. Nat. lOfh e<l. 17."»8, IfiS, nn<l of Kuropoan RUtliors. — Rkin- 

 iiAiinr, n»w, 1»61, G idrwnlaiKl). Baii:i», Ww. Aiu. 15. 1.^04, *J:M(li«'«iil;iml). 



Si*. C'iivr. This siM'cies is sinalhT than our RoUiii (T. iuiifratorinn), but of a similar 

 «'ravi.'<h-oliv»' ahovc, iiichidiii^' tlie hfa<l. The uiuKt parts an- white; thi' fi-athrrs of tho 

 lower throat and I »rca.st streaked with l»rown. The sides, nxiUars, and inner win<r-e«>vert 

 are reddish-iinnainon. A eonspii iioiis white streak ovt-r the eye iuid extending' .is far 

 b;Mk as the iia{H*. iJill lilaek, yellow at hjise of lower jaw. Le;rs pale-colon'<l. Second 

 «|ijill lon<r«'r than fifth. Lenirth. about H.2."> ; winjr, 4.04 ; tail, :i.45 ; bill, from ^'ape, 1.07; 

 from nostril. .44 ; tarsus. l.KJ; mi<ldle toe and elaw. l.lo. Speeimen described: 1H,71S, 

 ^. a r.ritish speeimen received frotn tlw Royal Artillery Institution, Woolwieh. 



n.\». (Jreenland, in the New World. 



The occtirrence of tliis wi'll-known Kuropoaii spocics in rfreenland l»rinj]fs 

 it witliin the limits of tlie AiiuTii-an Fiuiiia. Two (rreeuhuul specimens are 

 recorded l>y Dr. lieinhardt: one of them sliot at Frederickshuub, OctolH3r 20, 

 lS4r,. 



Hahits. The Redwinj,' can probably only claim a place in the fauna of 

 Xorth America as an occasional visitant. Of the two siHicimens observed 

 in (lieenland, one was shot late in ()ctol»er. It is not known to breed there. 



This s])ecies, during its breedinj^ season, is found oidyinthe more northern 

 p<»rti(>ns of P^urope ; only occasionally, and very rarely, breeding so fjir south 

 as England. It makes its appearance in that kingdom on its southern migra- 

 tions, coming in large flocks from Northern and Xorthefistern Europe, and 

 arrivin;; usuallv before the end of October. During their stay in England 

 they freipient parks and pleasure-grounds that are ornamented with clumps 

 of trees. During mild and open weather they seek their subsistence in 

 pasture lands and moist meadows, feeding principally on worms and snails. 

 In severe winters, when the groiuid is closed by frost or covered by snow, 

 the Uedwings are among the first birds to suffer, and often perish in large 

 uiimljers. 



During the winter they extend their migrations to the more southern por- 

 tions of Euroi)e, to Sicily, Malta, and even to Sn)yrna. In early spring they 

 retiun to the more central portions of the continent, and leave in May for 

 their more northern places of resort. 



They nest in trees in the moist woods of Norway and Sweden. Their 

 n(?sts resemble those of the common Fieldfare, T. pilark. The outside is 

 composed of sticks, weeds, and coarse grass, gathered wet, and matted with Ji 

 small quantity of moist clay. They are lined with a thick tel of fine gi-ass. 



The Redwing is said to possess a delightful note, and is called the Night- 

 ingale of Norway. linnanis, speaking of this bird, claims that its high 

 and varied notes rival even those of that far-famed vocalist. 



During the summer the Redwing advances to tl.*; extreme north, visiting 



