THE FIELDFARE. 221 



It is generally to be met with in large flocks, which during mild 

 weather spread themselves over the low pasture lands in search of 

 worms, slugs, or the larvas of insects, but in winter, when their 

 hunting grounds are covered with snow, resort to the uplands to 

 obtain the haws and other berries from the hedges. Should the 

 weather, however, become unusually severe, the Fieldfares leave us to 

 go further south, and visit us again on their migration homewards. 



The flight of this species is rather slow, but easy and slightly 

 undulated; the wings are alternately flapped quickly about a dozen 

 times, and then extended motionless for a second or two. While 

 proceeding in this manner, a low cry is uttered at intervals, until a 

 desirable feeding ground being sighted, the whole flock wheel around 

 several times, and then alight. "After settling/' says Macgillivray, 

 " each is seen to stand still with its wings close, but a little drooping^ 

 its tail slightly declined, and its head elevated. It then hops rapidly 

 a few steps forward, picks up a seed, an insect, or other article of 

 food, and again proceeds/' 



The Fieldfare has a soft and not unmelodious song, which is some- 

 times heard as early as the end of February. A number of these 

 birds will frequently, as they sit upon the upper branches of the trees 

 unite their voices in pleasing chorus. Their alarm note resembles the 

 syllables " cliack, chack, chock." 



In a few instances this species has been known to breed in Britain. 

 Pennant mentions two cases that came to his knowledge, and a nest 

 has been found in Kent, and others in Yorkshire and Scotland. In 

 Norway a number of nests are usually found close together, they are 

 placed either against the trunks or among the branches of the spruce 

 firs, at heights varying from four to thirty or forty feet, and consist 

 of sticks, grass, and weeds, gathered wet, and cemented together with 

 moist clay, and thickly lined with grass. The eggs are from three 

 to six in number, of a pale bluish green, spotted with dark reddish 

 brown. The young are able to fly about the first week in August. 



We may mention that the Fieldfare is supposed to be the species 

 of Thrush so highly esteemed by the Eomans as an article of food, 

 and which they fattened with a paste composed of figs and flour. Its 

 flesh is said to be tender and sapid, although slightly bitter. Great 

 numbers are sometimes shot or snared in this country for the table, 

 and may be purchased in the markets of London, Edinburgh, and 

 other cities. 



The male weighs about four ounces, and is from ten and a half to 

 ten and three quarter inches in length. The head and hind neck are 

 ash grey j the back dull chesnut brown ; the wings and tail mostly 



