180 BEDWING. 



fields, where, standing for a while motionless, with the head 

 turned towards the wind, if there be any, the wings slightly 

 drooped, and the tail straight or a little raised, each individual, 

 on perceivng what it is in search of, a worm, caterpillar, 

 beetle or other insect, hops briskly to the spot, and makes 

 its meal. When such food is hidden by snow, they resort to 

 hawthorn and holly bushes, and partake of this frugal fare; 

 and if this supply in turn fails, they are compelled to seek 

 the margins of streams, where some scanty resources may still 

 be to be found, and, as before observed, turn also to the 

 neighbourhood of the ocean. In very severe seasons numbers 

 perish from the effects of cold and hunger. The years 1799, 

 1814, and 1822 were peculiarly fatal to them. 



The song of the Redwing, a veritable 'Swedish Nightingale,' 

 known indeed in the northern countries by the name of that 

 bird, is described as being exceedingly beautiful. 'Its high 

 and varied notes,' says Linnaeus, in his 'Tour in Lapland/ 

 'rival those of the Nightingale herself.' It is loud, sweet, 

 clear, and musical, with yet a wildness, which gives it an 

 inexpressible charm in the ear of the lover of such strains 

 as Jenny Lind has so enchantingly cultivated, and which give 

 such expression to her Norse songs. It has however an 

 ordinary note as well, and about the end of March, and the 

 beginning of April, large numbers of these birds may be seen 

 collected together at the top of a tree, and uttering together 

 a not unpleasing kind of murmuring concert, more or less 

 loud: singly heard, however, their ordinary note is a rather 

 harsh clear scream. 



The nest is placed in the centre of a thorn or other bush, 

 alder, birch, or other tree, and is made of moss, roots, and 

 dry grass outwardly, cemented together with clay, and lined 

 inwardly with finer grass. 



The eggs are said to be found in June, and to be towards 

 six in number, of a pale bluish green, spotted with reddish 

 brown. 



Meyer says that two broods are reported to be reared in 

 the year. 



Male; length, from about eight inches and a quarter to 

 eight and three quarters; bill, brownish black above and on 

 the end of the lower mandible; the inner half is orange 

 yellow, as are the edges of the upper part: a band of yellowish 

 white runs from the base of the bill half way down the neck, 

 and a continuous line of closely-set dark spots. Iris, brown 



