KEDWING. 179 



kingdom. White, of Selborne, mentions that in one very cold 

 and backward season they lingered in Hampshire till June. It 

 returns at the end of October or the beginning of November. 

 One instance of its remaining here to build its nest has been 

 obligingly communicated to me by Captain Turton, of the 

 Third Dragoon G-uards, In 1836, a nest was found on the 

 margin of a brook, which afterwards becomes the Leven, on 

 his father's property at Kildale, in Cleveland. The late John 

 Bell, Esq., M,R for Thirsk, shot the female bird which had 

 been previously wounded: the nest contained four eggs. The 

 late Mr, Macgillivray, whom I much regret to have thus to 

 designate in the accuracy of his observations as an ornithologist 

 he stood unrivalled relates that he has known individuals 

 remain in the island of Harris so late as the 25th. of May, 

 and at Eodhill, there Mr. Bullock has recorded that he found 

 a nest in the year 1828. Other such instances have occurred 

 at Godalming, in Surrey, and near Barnet, in Middlesex. 

 The migration of this species is believed to take place at 

 night; and the unerring direction of nature prescribes the 

 exact time for it most properly to take place. 



While with us these birds are gregarious, going in flocks, 

 often of considerable magnitude. They are rather shy, and 

 will not permit anything like a near approach, unless it be 

 when the snow has continued for some time upon the ground, 

 and all-compelling hunger overcomes their fear of ordinary 

 dangers. At such times they are very abundant on the cliffs, 

 and near the shores of the sea, where the saline nature of the 

 atmosphere and of the marine vegetation gives them something 

 of an exceptional livelihood. Ordinarily, if alarmed in a field, 

 they betake themselves to the vantage-ground of any neigh- 

 bouring trees, or else fly off to a distance on the approach 

 of a stranger. In the countries where they build, they will 

 drop down from their perch on the top of a tree, and hide 

 in the thick brushwood. They are good birds to eat, and are 

 procured in numbers for the table. They associate in some 

 degree with Fieldfares, and even with Missel Thrushes, but 

 only temporarily, as their flight is different. They may readily 

 be preserved in a large aviary. 



Their flight is quick and a little undulated, performed by 

 a series of flappings of the wings, with short intervals, during 

 which they descend a little. 



Insects afford their 'Preferential shares,' and in search of 

 these they are seen in open weather on the ground in the 



