74 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



near the nest. The male on such occasions is at no great distance, 

 and soon joins his mate, the two making rapid sallies, brushing 

 within a few inches of the offender, and making all the while a 

 harsh, grating noise. I recollect seeing a pair of Missel Thrushes 

 defending their nest against the repeated attacks of two crows, 

 that made a determined assault. The nest was situated in a larch 

 tree, and one of the crows, after making the first attack, flew off 

 to some distance, followed by the disturbed thrush. The second 

 crow then pounced on the defenceless young, and would no doubt 

 have soon destroyed them, had not the other Missel Thrush come 

 to the rescue. Both of the Missel Thrushes then beat off their 

 black assailants, buffetting them with great determination. I was 

 very much interested with the sight, and was glad to see the 

 crows so gallantly repulsed. 



About the middle of June the young birds become gregarious, 

 and haunt grass parks, where they pick up snails and other ani- 

 mals, on which they feed. I have seen flocks of twenty or thirty 

 birds collected in this way in various parts of Ayrshire. On being 

 disturbed, they flew at once to the nearest wood, where they had 

 been probably hatched. 



Messrs Baikie and Heddle state that this species makes its 

 appearance occasionally in Orkney after strong easterly gales. 



THE FIELDFAKE. 



T URDUS PILARIS. 



Liatruisg. 



THERE can be no doubt that the large migratory flocks of Field- 

 fares which visit Scotland come from the east and north-east. 

 On this account they are first seen in Aberdeenshire and East 

 Lothian. I have often witnessed their arrival in the latter county, 

 having spent many seasons in watching the appearance of our 

 migratory birds. On reaching the coast near Dunbar, for the 

 most part about daybreak, they settle on the Links, and arrange 

 their plumage after their long flight, remaining a few days in the 

 vicinity of the rocks, which they frequent regularly at low tide. 

 Continued frost, especially if accompanied by snow, will afterwards, 

 however, bring them down from the higher ground whither they 



