60 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



The eggs are almost too well known to need 

 description : they are generally rather larger than 

 those of the Blackbird, but they vary in size as well 

 in colour, the most usual colour being a dull 

 greenish ground, which is much spotted with dull 

 red and brown ; in some the ground is of a reddish 

 white. 



FIELDFARE, Turdus pilaris. The Fieldfare is a 

 numerous and well-known winter visitor, generally 

 arriving towards the end of October or beginning of 

 November (my earliest note of the appearance of 

 this bird is the 1st of November), and departing 

 about the middle or end of April, though occa- 

 sionally it stays later: I have noted it myself as 

 late as the 29th of April, and there are some notes 

 in the ' Zoologist ' of its appearance in considerable 

 numbers as late as the 18th of May, and rarely a 

 bird has been seen even in July : these occasional 

 instances are most probably birds which, either 

 from wounds or some other accidental cause, are 

 not able to accompany the migration of their com- 

 panions, as the Fieldfare is seldom known to breed 

 in England. Yarrell says a nest has been found in 

 Kent, and others in Yorkshire and Scotland. 



The re-appearance of this bird has, in a few 

 instances, also been noticed before the usual period 

 as early as August or September. 



In very severe winters the Fieldfares leave us to 

 go still further south ; but occasionally, if the hard 



