THE FIELD-FARE. 285 



blackbird, but rather greener in the tint, and the spots more 

 decidedly marked. 



When the business of nidification is over, the birds again 

 retire to the south ; and, as they have a farther flight than 

 those which they require to take on their journey into the 

 interior, they rest longer. They are more noticed on their 

 southward march, as they collect by the way. They come 

 into the low country about the end of September, and gene- 

 rally linger there for three weeks or a month. Hence they 

 are called Michaelmas blackbirds. They are beautiful birds, 

 and have something very peculiar in their habits ; but we 

 want information respecting them, especially their favourite 

 food. I am inclined to think that mountain beetles form a 

 considerable part of it, but I cannot say positively. If one 

 will stand to look at you on the dark heath, where little else 

 comes definitely out but the bright white crescent on the 

 breast, the sight is very pretty. 



THE FIELD-FARE (Turdus pilaris). 



The field-fare of which a figure is given on the plate at 

 page 30, along with the ptarmigan and the quail, on the same 

 lineal scale as the latter, and half as much as the former, that 

 is, one third of the size is in many respects the very anti- 

 podes of the last-mentioned species. Like that, it is a 

 migrant, and upon the continent has a considerable range in 

 latitude; but with us it is a winter migrant, arriving late in 

 the autumn, and remaining till the season is considerably 

 advanced. 



Field-fares are said to breed chiefly in the woods within 

 and near the arctic circle j and as insects are very abundant 

 there in the summer, which does not fairly set in till June, 

 and wild berries are equally plentiful in what may be termed 

 the arctic autumn, which is merely a few weeks during which 

 the winter pauses, ere it collect its storms and whelm the 



