MERULID^E. 67 



negative sort of evidence. I have often heard Red- 

 wings in the spring, just before their departure, 

 twittering, or rather chattering, together, very much 

 like a flock of Starlings, for which, if not seen, they 

 might easily have been mistaken ; but I have never 

 heard anything like real singing. This negative 

 evidence, however, is not worth much against the 

 positive assertion of competent judges that they 

 have actually heard them sing beautifully, and that 

 in this country. 



The nest is similar to that of the Fieldfare, but 

 placed nearer the ground.* 



The beak of the Redwing is dark horn-colour, 

 except at the base of the lower mandible, which is 

 pale yellowish brown ; the irides hazel ; the whole 

 of the upper parts as in the Song Thrush ; there is, 

 however, a conspicuous streak of nearly pure white 

 running from the base of the upper mandible over 

 the eye, which will immediately distinguish it from 

 that bird ; ear-coverts the same colour as the back ; 

 throat white, with some streaks of dark brown 

 mostly on the side ; all the under parts white, 

 spotted with brown, except a portion of the flanks 

 and the under wing-coverts, which are red, whence 

 the name of the bird ; legs pale brown ; toes and 

 claws dark brown. 



The Redwing does not nest in England, but 



* Mag. of Zool. and Bot., vol. ii., p. 312. 



