THE RED-WING THRUSH. 289 



more of a greenish tinge than the thrush. The female has 

 the under part more dusky and the red less bright. 



The whole habits of the red-wing are very similar to those 

 of the thrush ; like that it builds chiefly in low bushes ; and 

 in the breeding countries, which are principally those around 

 the Baltic, it sings sweetly in the breeding season, though 

 with us it has only a sort of plaintive piping note. The 

 birds come to our shores in September, sooner or later, ac- 

 cording to the state of the weather in the places whence 

 they come, and of the wind which aids them in their passage 

 across the sea. 



Red-wings appear in flocks, are lovers of peace, and mingle 

 freely with the field-fares ; 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 the hedges, or on the ground, according to circum- 

 stances ; but when they are frozen out, they betake them- 

 selves to the hedges and copses, in search of wild berries, and 

 continue till these also are exhausted; and if they are then 

 overtaken by a storm, many of them perish, as, like the field- 

 fares, they seem to have but little command of themselves 

 in a gale. If the season is variable, they work their way 

 southward, but suffer very much from hunger and fatigue ; 

 and many of them are smothered in the snow, if overtaken 

 by heavy falls in their attempts to pass the central heights. 



Red-wings, as well as field-fares, are often found lingering 

 in those parts of Britain which have the greatest resemblance 

 to the countries where they nestle, as late as the middle of 

 May, or even the first of June, detained, no doubt, chiefly by 

 the east winds, which blow dry and cold at that season; but 

 the same instinct the same obedience to the state of the 

 weather which retains them with us, prevents them from 



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