222 NATUBE AND WOODCRAFT. 



Gilbert White, and he it was who first pointed 

 out that it was among the first birds to suffer in 

 winter. It is not unfrequently found so over- 

 come by cold as to be quite unable to get away. 

 The bird has its prettily descriptive name from 

 the fact of its sides and lower wing coverts 

 being light red or chestnut. For weeks past 

 the laurels and holly-bushes of our garden 

 have sheltered small flocks of these little northern 

 thrushes — for the birds are gregarious, though 

 never going in very great numbers. Even 

 though unseen, the approach of the birds may 

 be easily detected by the soft piping sounds 

 which they utter in coming to roost at evening. 

 Norwegian peasants call this bird the nightin- 

 gale, from the deliciously soft notes of its song 

 — thrush-like in their cadence, though resem- 

 bling in mellowness those of the woodlark. 

 The Redwing usually returns to its northern 

 breeding-haunts about the beginning of April, 

 though in cold springs it lingers long, and has 

 even been known to breed in Britain. 



The Fieldfare is another winter visitant, and 

 constitutes the chief game-bird of the young 

 gunner. This fine thrush does not make its 

 appearance until a month later than the Redwing; 



