203 
Major A. von Homeyer (Mitth. orn. Ver. Wien, 1885, p. 8) has given some interesting notes on 
the nesting of the Fieldfare in Germany, proving apparently that its breeding-range has become 
considerably extended during the present century. Mr. Hartert writes to me that he agrees 
with E. von Homeyer and others in doubting the supposed extension of the breeding-range, 
but rather thinks that it is somewhat erratic in its habits, often appearing in counties where 
it had not been before, and again leaving others where it used to breed, but he fails to see 
that it has really extended its range southwards. Pastor Hintz found it breeding in the 
Rügenwalde in Pomerania in the year 1820, and Seiffertitz near Herzberg. Wiese found a colony 
nesting at Loburg, 40 miles west of Magdeburg, and Tobias at Lausitz. L, С. Brehm obtained 
nestlings in 1826 near Wittenberg on the Elbe, and they are still in his collection. Gloger 
mentions a colony near Bredan in 1818. Since 1884 the species has been discovered nesting in 
Bavaria, and the existence of several colonies was recorded by Herr Grashey in the above-named 
year between Munich and Augsburg. Since 1853 Dr. Liebe states that it has been common in 
Eastern Thuringia, and Hintz found many nests near Grabon and Stettin. Baron Kotz records the 
occurrence of the Fieldfare in the Bóhmerwald in July at 3000 feet, among the pine-trees. Herr 
Capek is the authority for the breeding of the bird in Moravia, nests having been found near 
Zámrsk to the north of Kelé, at Dohnahl and at Milotic on the Becwa River. 
To the rest of Europe the Fieldfare is principally known as a winter visitant, but, according 
to Baron De Selys-Longchamps, a few pairs are said to nest in the higher Ardennes, and Schlegel says 
that a few pairs have also been known to nest near Groningen in Holland. It is also believed to 
build in the Italian Alps and in Switzerland, but no authentic records are established ; but that it 
breeds in the Pyrenees has not only been asserted, but seems very likely to be the case, as 
Mr. H. M. Wallis observed a Fieldfare at 5700 feet above Gavarine, in the Central Pyrenees, on 
the 6th of July. 
The migrations of the Fieldfare vary in extent with the severity of the seasons in the north. 
Although they all seem to quit their extreme northern breeding-places at the approach of winter, 
many remain in Scandinavia during the latter period of the year, descending to the lower grounds and 
feeding on berries. Thus the birds are much less common in Great Britain in mild winters than 
when the weather is severe in the north of Europe; and the Fieldfare is the last of the Thrushes to 
arrive on our shores, as it also is the last to succumb to the severity of a hard winter. It is 
found everywhere in Great Britain during the cold weather, arriving generally in October and 
December; but it has also been seen occasionally in September, and it has been observed as late as 
May. As to the nesting of the bird in Scotland and other parts of Great Britain, there is as yet no 
authentic evidence of the fact. "There is no reason why the bird should not nest in the pine-woods 
of the north, just as it does іп Norway, but, so far, every nest sent to me to the British Museum 
from Scotland as that of the Fieldfare has turned out to be that of the Mistle-Thrush. 
The winter range of the present species extends to the Mediterranean countries, to Spain, 
Portugal, Algeria, Marocco, and the Canaries, and it also occurs in Italy, Greece, Cyprus, 
Palestine, and Egypt at this season of the year, as well as in Southern Russia, Asia Minor, and the 
Caucasus. | 
In Siberia the Fieldfare ranges as far as the Yenesei Valley in the breeding-season, and has 
been met with by Dybowski and Godlewski in Dauria and in the southern part of Lake Baikal, 
but only in spring, and it is not seen on the autumn migration. It has been found nesting on the 
Wiloni River by Mr. Paulowski (Tacz. Faun. Orn. Sibir. i. p. 289). On the Yenesei, Seebohm found 
a nest in 69° N. lat. and noticed it as high as 704°. Mr. Н. І. Popham says that it is the 
commonest of all the forest-birds on the Yenesei, colonies of several hundreds inhabiting the 
willows on nearly all the islands (Ibis, 1897, p. 91). 
VOL. I. 2F 
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