90 IN BIRD-LAND 



During the winter months the fields are full of 

 birds of the Thrush family ; and when it is frosty 

 one can get quite close to some of them. The 

 Fieldfare and Redwing are the most difficult to 

 approach ; but with a little caution it is possible to 

 get within a few yards of them. The former is 

 rather a handsome bird, and can readily be distin- 

 guished from other Thrushes by its notes chuff- 

 uff-uff-uff- and, when flying, by its conspicuous 

 grey back. When alarmed, they betake themselves 

 to a neighbouring tree, and when so flying their 

 tail feathers are spread out in the shape of a fan. 



These birds used to be largely sought after by 

 the Romans as an article of diet ; and even now 

 large numbers are sometimes seen in our own 

 markets. The Felt, as this bird is popularly called, 

 offers very good sport ; during mild weather they 

 congre'gate in flocks in meadows, flying away at 

 the least alarm ; but when snow is on the ground 

 they betake themselves to hawthorn bushes to feed 

 on the berries. It is while they are thus employed, 

 that large bags are made by sportsmen who lie in 

 hiding and shoot the birds while they are feeding. 

 During a very cold winter I knew of a labourer 

 who, while thus lying in ambush, would each day 

 shoot numbers of these birds, and lived on them to 

 some extent during the cold weather. 



