20 BIRDS OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 



really severe weather they leave for a warmer and 

 more southerly clirae. These autumn flocks are 

 sometimes mistaken for those of the Fieldfare. Mis- 

 sel-Thrushes may, however, readily be distinguished 

 from the latter, even at some distance, by their light 

 mealy appearance; hence a common local name. 

 Shy and wary as these birds are, in the breeding- 

 season they throw off much of their wildness. Their 

 nest is often conspicuous, both from the materials 

 used and the situation. I have seen one that was 

 placed on the bough of an evergreen oak, within a few 

 feet of a sitting-room window, and doubly conspicuous 

 from being partly constructed of light-coloured 

 scraps of paper thrown out by the paper-hangers. 



34. TURDUS PILARIS, Linnseus. Fieldfare. 



Provincial. Felfur, Fulfur. 



A common winter visitant, arriving in large flocks 

 from the middle of October to the end of November. 

 Are exceedingly variable, both as to their time of 

 arrival and numbers. In the winters of 1860-61, 

 1864-65, 1869-70 were very plentiful. There was 

 also an immense immigration of these northern 

 Thrushes on the 30th of November, 1868, on which 

 day flocks passed over this parish from N. to S. 

 for several hours. In the Great-Cotes and Stallin- 

 borough marshes thousands were everywhere sitting 

 grouped together on the pastures, like Golden Plo- 

 vers, and this over a large extent of marsh land. 



