132 BIRD-LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



by far the commonest in the vicinity of Paignton ; 

 and yet in Torquay and its suburbs the Song 

 Thrush is certainly the more abundant of the two. 

 Possibly this may be due to the exceptional 

 abundance of snails a favourite food of the Song 

 Thrush, but not of the Blackbird in the latter 

 locality. Here, in the mild climate of South 

 Devon, the Song Thrush is almost as much of 

 a perennial spngster as the Robin ; but the Black- 

 bird, curiously enough, never regains his matchless 

 flute-like voice after the moult until early in the 

 following spring. In winter we are favoured with 

 the presence of the Redwing and the Fieldfare ; 

 but, so far as this immediate neighbourhood is 

 concerned, these birds cannot be classed as very 

 numerous. The Fieldfares draw most of their 

 sustenance from the hedges, levying toll upon the 

 almost inexhaustible supplies of ivy-berries, hips 

 and haws, and holly-berries whenever obtainable. 

 These latter berries are great favourites with the 

 Thrush tribe here, and also with Starlings ; so 

 that by Christmas, when these berries are held in 

 high esteem for decorative purposes, most of the 

 trees are stripped. The Redwings are not such 

 berry feeders ; they seek their animal food upon 



