4 BRITISH BIRDS. 



few sometimes remain until end of April. Usually seen 

 about the fields in small flocks in company with Fieldfares, 

 etc., but also frequents woodlands. Alarm note a sharp 

 but liquid chuck. Largely a ground feeder, food consist- 

 ing of insects, snails, etc., but also fond of holly berries. 



4. Turdus pilaris, Linn. FIELDFARE. 



Hab. Breeds from Siberia (west of the Lena) to 

 Finland and Scandinavia, and southward to Bavaria and 

 Poland. In winter south to N. Africa and India. 



Male : head slate-grey, streaked with black ; mantle 

 and upper wing-coverts chestnut-brown ; lower back ash- 

 grey ; tail-feathers dark brown ; throat and breast 

 brownish buff streaked with black, flanks also being 

 boldly marked with blackish-brown ; centre of abdomen 

 and under wing-coverts pure white ; bill yellow ; tarsi 

 dusky brown. In winter plumage is slightly duller, 

 and bill brownish. Length 10*25. Female scarcely 

 differs. 



There is no actual proof that it has bred with us. 

 Arrives late in September, leaving by middle of April ; 

 stragglers, however, sometimes remaining until May. 

 Gregarious, frequently in company with other species ; 

 feeding upon insects, grubs, and various berries. May be 

 readily distinguished by its blue-grey lower-back when 

 near the ground ; white belly and under-wing are also 

 noticeable during flight. Note : a loud harsh tzer-er, 

 tzack, tzack, uttered on the wing ; flight rapid. 



5. Turdus atrigularis, Temm. BLACK-THROATED 

 THRUSH. 



Hab. Siberia, south to the Himalayas and Turkestan. 

 In winter south to Northern India and Persia. A rare 

 straggler to Europe. 



