TIIK FIELDFAHE.] 



HV F I KLl), WOOD AM) W \T1' li. 



[the Tnuusn. 



tbeir former liberty, was sedulously kept out of 

 Bi'»ht, such as fields, woods, birds, or wli:it- 

 ever niitjht disturb or break in upon their 

 meinorie:*, or impair thi'ir improvement. Under 

 this troatiiuMit, tlio riMlwini^ fattiMied to a j^rcut 

 extent, sold tor a good price, and held a higii 

 place at the tables of this luxurious people. 



Bewick tells us tliat a redwing was taken 

 up, November 7th, 1785, at six o'clock in the 

 morning, whieii, on its approach to land, had 

 flown ai'ainst the lighthouse at Tynemouth, 

 and was so stunned, that it fell to the ground, 

 and died soon after. The light, it is conjec- 

 tured, had attracted its attention. Tho same 

 writer observes, that when redwings appear on 

 the eastern coast, they as commonly announce 

 the approach of the woodcock, as does the 

 arrival of the wryneck that of the cuckoo in 

 the south. The best time for shooting this 

 bird is in hard frosty weather ; it is then more 

 bold in keeping to its feeding-grounds, and is 

 in greater numbers. Tho sportsman should, 

 however, conceal himself as much as possible, 

 as these birds set scouts to watch the approach 

 of danger; and, on this account, it requires 

 considerable art to get within range of them. 



THE FIELDFARE. 



This 13 the Turdus Filarus of LinnsBUS, and 

 is a very pretty bird. It is about ten inches 

 long. The bill is yellow, and each corner of 

 the mouth is furnished with a few black and 

 bristly hairs. The eye is light brown, and the 

 head and back part of the neck are of a light 

 ashen hue ; the former spotted with black. 

 The coverts of the wings are of a deep hoary 

 brown, the rump ash-coloured, and the throat 

 and breast yellow, with regular spots of black. 

 Tlie belly and thighs are of a yellowish brown, 

 and, in the young birds, more decidedly yellow. 



There are some varieties of fieldfares which 

 display a somewhat different plumage ; but the 

 differences are not very important. They are 

 mostly confined to the comparative faintness of 

 the black spots on the breast, or the greater 

 predominance of white in various sections of 

 the body. 



This bird is migratory, and arrives in this 

 country commonly in the first week in October; 

 subject, however, to some variation on account 

 of the weatlier. The character of the coming 

 winter is supposed to be prognosticated by 



their appearance. If thoy nrrivo early, it is 

 said that wo shall have a hard season ; if late, 

 a mild one. They generally arrive in larj^o 

 flocks, and disappear about tho latter end of 

 February, or tho beginning of March, and re- 

 tire to Russia, Sweden, Norway, and as far as 

 Siberia and Kamtschatka. Bufl'on tells us, 

 they do not arrive in Franco till December, 

 when they assemble in flocks of two and threo 

 thousand. Their food ia haws and other ber- 

 ries, with worms, snails, and slugs. 



Tho fieldfare being a shy bird, is difficult of 

 approach with a gun. When they are in any 

 considerable numbers, they appoint regular 

 scouts to give the alarm of danger. They can, 

 therefore, seldom bo shot, except by stratagem ; 

 but they are easily killed, their feathers being 

 loose, and their frames delicate. 



Bewick says that fieldfares seem of a more 

 social disposition than the throstle or the mis- 

 sels. They are sometimes seen singly; but, in 

 general, form very numerous flocks, and fly in 

 a body ; and though thoy often spread them- 

 selves over the fields in search of food, they 

 seldom lose sight of each other, but, when 

 alarmed, fly off, and collect together upon the 

 same tree. 



THE THRUSH, OR THROSTLE. 



This bird is often, in country districts, an 

 object of the sportsman's attention, more espe- 

 cially ff he be a young one. It is the Turdus 

 Mucins of Linnscus, and is larger than the red- 

 wing, but less than the missel-thrush, to which, 

 in other respects, it bears a great resemblance, 

 both in form and colour. A small notch is 

 found at its bill, which is characteristic of all 

 the thrush species. The throat is white, and 

 the spots on the breast are very regularly 

 formed, and of a conical shape. The inside 

 of the wings and the mouth are yellow ; so like- 

 wise are the legs. The claws are strong and 

 black. 



The throstle is distinguished by its clear and 

 harmonious notes, and is one of the principal 

 songsters of the groves, taking the lead among 

 the feathered tribes ; which ought to preserve 

 it from wanton destruction. 



It is not properly migratory; but, in this 

 country, is more numerous iu particular places 

 at some part of the year than at others ; and 

 this circumstance has given rise to the idea 



GO.J 



