ITS BIRDS. 



85 



can measure the craft of this wily bird ? So far as I am 

 aware, not a single specimen has been entrapped. 



Starling. Perhaps the most abundant bird in the district 

 after the sparrow, but he was a very rare bird in many 

 parts of England fifty years ago. In hard weather 

 about thirty come eveiy morning to be fed on my lawn. 



Ring Ousel. A fine cock-bird seen on ]\Ir. Venables' wall 

 and in his garden at the entrance to Wanstead Park on 

 5th September 1S77. " Many years ago I saw one in my 

 fathers fields at Upton at the time of the spring migra- 

 tion. " — A. L. One was seen in the spring of 1884 by the 

 River Roding, and other instances have been recorded. 



GREEN WOODPECKEK. 



Song Thrush. Abundant in the autumn, but almost absent 

 in mid-winter. 



Blackbird. Abundant. We owe much of the music of the 

 woods to these two birds. 



Redwing. Large numbers roost in the denser thickets dur- 

 ing hard winters, especially when there is a good supply 

 of holly and other berries. At sunset they come troop- 

 ing in from all quarters, and sweep round the trees in 

 graceful flight before settling down for the night in the 

 lower brushwood. 



Fieldfare. In hard weather they come close to the houses to 

 feed on holly berries. 



