The Redwixg and Fieldfare. 301 



bran moistened with water. A little boiled potato, or whatever may come to table, will be 

 highly relished. 



The ailments of the Song Thrush, and their treatment, apply equally to the Missel Thrush. 



The Redwing breeds in Norway, and visits these shores in the middle of October or 

 beginning of November, staying with us until the following April or beginning of May. When 

 it arrives it is somewhat shy, keeping to the open country, unless pressed by hunger, when 

 it will approach human habitations in search of food. Being rather smaller in size than a 

 Thrush, the same kind of cage is well adapted for its keeping. Its food should also be similar, 

 adding for variety a little grated carrot. The remark as to the kind of snail eaten by the 

 Missel Thrush applies equally to this bird, as their food when wild is very similar. 



Its tameness, familiarity, patience, and appearance make the Redwing a good cage-bird; 

 and it will also make itself at .home and thoroughly agreeable when placed in an aviary. It 

 possesses a fine song, though somewhat broken and irregular. Linnaeus met with the bird 

 several times in Lapland, and says, " Its amorous warblings from the top of the spruce-fir 

 were delightful. Its high and varied notes rival those of the Nightingale herself" In length 

 it is nearly eight inches, and the great distinctions between it and the Song Thrush are a 

 large yellowish-white streak over the eyes, reaching from the upper mandible to the back 

 of the ear, whilst the feathers on the sides of the breast and under the wings are of a bright 

 rusty-red. The female is smaller than the male, and her colours are not so bright. 



For ailments and treatment, refer to Song Thrush. 



The Fieldfare, like the Redwing, is a visitor to these islands during the winter. Its 

 home is principally in Norway, where it is the most common bird. The nest may there be 

 found built in the spruce-firs. 



As it is a denizen of cold countries, this bird should not be kept in a room near the 

 fire. It should have a cage as large as a Missel Thrush's, as it is quite ten inches in length. 

 Its plumage is somewhat different to that of the rest of the Thrush tribe. The tip of the beak 

 is darker ; and from the base, which is brown, to the eye, the feathers are black ; the upper 

 part of the head ash-grey, spotted with brown ; the neck, ears, rump, and upper tail-coverts 

 are also ash-grey ; the back wings and wing-coverts are a rich chestnut-brown, towards the 

 end of the wing slightly shaded with bluish-grey, which shows more perceptibly during flight ; 

 the throat and breast are speckled somewhat similarly to the Thrush, the ground tint being 

 a rusty-yellow ; the belly and under tail-coverts are greyish-white. The female differs slightly 

 from the male, being rather smaller and slighter ; the upper part of the beak is darker ; the 

 back less clear in colour ; the throat lighter, and head browner. 



Its food when wild is very similar to that of the Redwing, and, its habits being much 

 the same, it may be fed upon the same paste, not forgetting to vary with scraped carrot. 

 Not being much of a songster, this bird is not generally kept ; but it is capable of being 

 rendered a handsome addition to large aviaries, as it is not of a quarrelsome disposition. 



For ailments and treatment, refer to Song Thrush. 



The Blackbird, as its name denotes, is jet-black over the whole of his body, wings, and 

 tail. The beak, which is an inch long, is of a brilliant yellow, showing markedly against its 

 sable plumage ; the eyelids are also of the same brilliant yellow,' surrounding a bright full 

 brown eye. The length is about ten inches. The tail is long and slightly rounded. The 



