THE KEDWING. 345 



over the eyes is almost white, and the spot on the side of the 

 head a clearer yellow. The prevailing colour of the lower 

 part of the body is white, inclining to yellow on the neck only ; 

 the spots on the breast are greyish brown, and there are none 

 on the vent. 



There are also white and mottled varieties. 



Habitat. In a wild state these birds are natives of the 

 north of Europe. They arrive in Germany for the winter 

 towards the end of October, and depart at the end of March 

 or beginning of April. 



With regard to their general treatment in captivity, their 

 food, diseases, and modes of capture, the same remarks apply 

 as to the preceding species. 



Attractive Qualities. The males utter in spring and summer 

 a few twittering notes, as unmelodious as the song of the 

 Fieldfare. "When large flocks collect in March or April on the 

 alders, their twittering does indeed make a great noise ; but 

 there is nothing in this to be dignified w r ith the name of a 

 song, though I have heard one which might have been mis- 

 taken for a poor Song Thrush, and even uttered some few 

 Nightingale notes. Their principal attraction as Cage-birds 

 lies in their tameness, familiarity, patience, and apparent 

 readiness to adapt themselves to circumstances. Bird-catchers 

 also use them as decoys. 



It must be remembered that they cannot bear heat, and 

 often require fresh water. 



ADDITIONAL. With us this bird is sometimes called the Wind 

 Thrush, and sometimes the Swinepipe. It is the smallest of 

 British Thrushes, and in the north is said to be so sweet a song- 

 ster, as to have obtained the name of the Norway Nightingale. 

 These birds commonly reach our shores in October, and depart 

 in the month of May ; the only music that we get from them is 

 a sort of plaintive piping note. The following is MUDIE'S account 

 of their habits : " Redwings appear in flocks, are lovers of peace, 

 and mingle freely with the Fieldfares ; the two, indeed, seem 

 alike at the mercy of storms during the winter, though the .Red- 

 wings usually come first, and occupy the ground. While the 

 weather continues open, they remain on the pastures and fields, 

 in those places where they land, and roost for the night in hedges 

 and copses, in search of wild berries, and continue till these also 

 are exhausted ; and if thev are then overtaken by a storm, many 

 gf them perish, as, like the Fieldfares, they seein tc have but 



