226 BRITISH BIRDS. 



song from the undergrowth ; a number of Redwings, too, were feeding on 

 the surrounding grass fields, when one of their number flew from the rest 

 and perched on a lowly hawthorn tree some ten yards away and com- 

 menced singing. I can only compare its song to a mixture of Song- 

 Thrush and Blackcap melody, the whole being given forth in one long 

 warbling strain, varied by several harsh and guttural notes. Well does 

 the Redwing merit the title of ' Swedish Nightingale/ a title bestowed 

 upon it by the great and illustrious Linnaeus ; for still more beautiful must 

 be his song when inspired by love, still more charming will its tones appear 

 when given forth amongst the pine-clad hills of his far northern home. He 

 continued singing for a few moments, when an unlucky movement on my 

 part sent him hastily away to the company of his kindred on the adjoining 

 meadows. Redwings in the winter months are ofttimes heard warbling in 

 a subdued tone, and varying their performance by the utterance of low 

 guttural notes. This usually happens at nightfall, when the birds are 

 about to retire to rest, and sit congregated on some tree-top then you 

 have music sweet to a degree ; singly it is a poor performance, but each 

 bird's notes chime in with the rest and make music pleasing to the ear. 

 Linnets and Bramblings will often do the same thing in the winter months, 

 each bird warbling in chorus or giving a variation by uttering low mur- 

 muring cries." 



The breeding-season of the Redwing commences early in June, fresh 

 eggs being found by the first week of that month, although in high 

 latitudes nests are often found containing newly laid eggs in the middle of 

 July. Though the Redwing does not usually nest in colonies like the 

 Fieldfare, still it seems to prefer the society of its larger and more powerful 

 relation; for wherever a colony of Fieldfares establish themselves, there, 

 almost as surely, a pair of Redwings will build their nest close to them. 

 In districts where trees abound the Redwing seems to show preference for 

 the small firs, where it builds its nest at no great altitude and close to 

 the stem ; but occasionally it will build upon the ground at the foot 

 of the tree, instead of in the branches. As is the case with the nests of 

 all Thrushes, it passes through three distinct stages before it is completed. 

 The birds form a loose nest of moss, dry grass, and a few fine twigs inter- 

 twined, the better to bind the materials together. This structure is then 

 lined and plastered with mud or clay ; and finally a thick lining is made 

 of fine dry grass, and sometimes a few rootless. It is neatly made, and 

 somewhat resembles the nest of the Ring-Ouzel, though it is smaller and 

 perhaps more firmly put together. The eggs of the Redwing are from four to 

 six in number, most frequently the former, and cannot easily be confounded 

 with the eggs of the other British Thrushes, on account of their smaller size. 

 The streaks or spots generally almost hide the ground-colour, and are 

 evenly distributed over the entire surface. The usual colour is a pale 



