342 THE FIELDFARE. 



friend, the Prince Butera, when the accomplished artist treat* 

 with all the solemnity due to the high importance of the subject, 

 of his Grives a la broche, au genievre, and a laflamandes. There 

 is, it is true, no accounting for tastes, and we would speak with 

 all reverence for discriminating palates ; but some may think that 

 all taste, save that for the pleasures of the table, must have 

 vanished, before the gourmand can sit down with gratification to 

 his dish of Song Thrushes." 



139. THE FIELDFAKE. 



Turdus Pilaris, LIN. Litorne ou Tourdelle, BUF. Der Wachholder- 

 drossel, BECH. 



Description. In size this bird is between the Missel and the 

 Song Thrush ; being ten inches long, of which the tail measures 

 four inches. The beak is one inch long, in general yellow, 

 but blackish at the point, and somewhat curved in the npper 

 part. The opening of the throat and the tongue are yellow : 

 the iris dark brown ; the feet a blackish brown, and one inch 

 and a quarter in height. The upper part of the head and 

 neck, the bottom of the back and the rump, are ashen grey, 

 with some blackish spots on the top of the head. A white 

 stripe passes over the eyes; the cheeks are ashen grey; the 

 back rusty brown ; the throat, half-way down the breast, a 

 rusty yellow, with black heart-shaped spots. The rest of the 

 under part of the body is white, having black heart-shaped 

 spots on the sides, and long spots of the same colour at the 

 vent. The wing-coverts are rusty brown; the larger ones 

 mottled with ashen grey. The pen feathers are blackish grey ; 

 the tail feathers blackish, the outermost having the outer half 

 white. 



In the female the upper part of the beak is more grey than 

 yellow ; the head and rump of a paler grey ; the throat white, 

 the back a dirty rust colour, the feet dark brown. 



There are also many varieties, e. g. The White, the Spotted, 

 and the White-headed Fieldfare. 



Habitat. This bird is to be found not only all over Europe, 

 but even in Siberia. The pine woods of the north are its summer 

 abode, where it builds its nest upon the highest trees. In the 

 middle of November it enters Germany in flocks, and passes 

 the winter, wherever the juniper berry is plentiful. In March 

 or April, according to the mildness of the season, it again 

 departs towards the north. When in captivity, it is treated 



