THE FIELDFARE. 189 



head is held well up ; then the bird gives a short series of 

 rapid hops, picks up a seed or grub, pauses for a moment, 

 and then hops on rapidly again. 



When feeding in this way, the birds always move in 

 one direction, not running about promiscuously, as is com- 

 monly the case ; and when one or two of the party may 

 have fallen a little in the rear, they take a short flight, and 

 rejoin the main body of their comrades. When alarmed, 

 they do not instantly rise, but remain motionless for an 

 instant, then uttering a screaming note, like the words 

 " chack, chack, chack/-' they all take refuge in flight, or 

 seek the shelter of some tall trees that may be conveniently 

 near. 



The song of the Fieldfare is heard as early as the com- 

 mencement of March. It is soft and pleasing, and, in 

 addition to this song, they often indulge in a harsh, un- 

 musical chatter. 



In nesting operations the Fieldfare is a sociable bird, 

 building in colonies, and, according to some authorities, " as 

 many as two hundred nests have been found within a small 

 circuit of the forest."" As in the case of rooks and some 

 other birds, they return season after season to breed in the 

 same locality. 



The nest is built of dried grass, twigs, and sticks, 

 cemented with clay, and lined with fine fibres and grass, 

 and generally in pine or fir trees at various heights from 

 the ground. The eggs vary in number from three to six, 

 and are of a pale bluish-green colour, with spots of dark 

 reddish -brown. 



The plumage of the Fieldfare is handsome and well 

 marked. The iris is dark brown ; the bill is orange inside, 

 with bristles at the base, and dark brown at the tip ; be- 



