FIELDFARES AND ROBINS 103 



the thrush they seem to receive considerable 

 additions to their numbers in autumn. 



Large flocks of fieldfares pass by on migra- 

 tion, arriving about the first week of November, 

 passing again in spring to their northern breed- 

 ing-places in Scandinavia and Russia, where, 

 strangely enough, they nest in social colonies. 

 There is, as yet, no record of their nesting in 

 Great Britain, a somewhat remarkable fact, as 

 they breed in many parts of Germany, of late 

 in increasing numbers ; so that quite possibly 

 some may yet, sooner or later, remain here to 

 nest. Some years ago I saw a large flock in 

 Banffshire as late as the 6th of May. The 

 redwing is a much less frequent visitor, and 

 seems to be the very first to feel the pinch of 

 cold and wintry weather. In the higher glens 

 and straths the harsh ' chack-chack ' of the ring 

 ouzel is heard in April ; but early in autumn 

 they leave for southern Europe and the north 

 of Africa. 



One of our commonest birds is the familiar 

 robin, notable for its quarrelsome habits, and 

 as being one of the very few birds that sing 

 even in winter. His cousin, the gentle hedge- 

 sparrow, is much less common, and is usually 

 found in the vicinity of human habitation. 

 The redstart here as elsewhere throughout 



