286 THE MISSEL-THRUSH. 



shyness, and to its holding much to the forest, where it 

 escaped observation. This bird is very general in the 

 wooded districts of Scandinavia ; but its limits to the north- 

 ward do not seem to be very accurately ascertained. Some 

 few migrate ; but the principal part remain throughout the 

 winter ; their food at that period consisting principally of the 

 juniper berry. 



The Fieldfare (Bjork-Trast, or Birch-Thrush, Sw. ; T, 

 pilaris, Linn.) was common, during the autumn, in my 

 vicinity ; some few, indeed, bred with us. It is also common 

 throughout Scandinavia generally, as high up, indeed, as the 

 North Cape that is, wherever wood is to be found. It is 

 believed to be the most numerous of the thrush tribe in- 

 habiting the peninsula. Its chief resorts during the summer 

 months are the Barr-skogar* of the north ; but in the 

 autumn it appears in the south of Sweden in immense 

 flocks. Many left us for warmer climes ; but unless the 

 weather was specially severe, very many remained during 

 the whole winter. 



The fieldfare is more generally known in Sweden under 

 the name of the Sno-Skata, or snow-magpie. The former 

 part of the designation is derived from the belief that, when 

 this bird appears in large numbers, snow and hard weather is 

 pending ; the latter, from its unusual length of tail, and the 

 magpie-like chattering it constantly keeps up, particularly in 

 the vicinity of its nest. 



The vocal powers of the fieldfare are not of the first order. 

 The male bird never attempts a song, except during the 

 period of incubation, at which time, and whilst descending, 



* That is, pine-woods, in contra-distinctiou to Lof-skogar, or woods consisting 

 of deciduous trees. 



