The Fieldfare 



high in the air, with quick and regular wing-beats. At first 

 sight they appear like Missel Thrushes, but their flight is 

 less erratic, and their unmistakable note tells us that the 

 last of our migrant Thrushes has arrived to spend the 

 winter with us. Like the Eedwing, the Fieldfare is 

 emphatically a bird of the North, although, as he always 

 nests in trees, he does not touch high latitudes, like the 

 Eedwing, being restrained in that direction by the limit of 

 tree growth. In summer the woods of the far north form his 

 home, and, as if he himself felt the solitude and intense still- 

 ness that reigns there, he breeds generally in small colonies of 

 from ten to a dozen pairs. The nests are generally placed in 

 the first fork of a birch tree, from 4 to 8 feet above the 

 ground. The eggs closely resemble those of the Missel 

 Thrush, but are rather smaller. The Fieldfare's song is 

 very feeble, and consists of an incoherent warble, varied 

 with the "chack, chack" of his call-note. However he is 

 not the only denizen of the woods that feels the need of 

 companionship, as it will generally be found that a few pairs 

 of Eedwings have also nested near the colony, and their more 

 melodious song is an added element of cheerfulness. Amid 

 such surroundings the young Fieldfare is hatched, and is 

 carefully tended by his parents, who supply him with 

 worms, insects, beetles, and in fact any small living thing 

 that they can capture. They are most bold and noisy in 

 defence of their young, flying close round an intruder's 

 head, and uttering their alarm - note unceasingly. The 

 young bird being duly fledged, leaves his nest, and in 

 company with others of his own age wanders about the 

 woods, feeding on insects or any fruit he can find ; while 



ii 



