THE YOUNG 



NATURiLIST. 



365 



thinned. In bacj attacks the best plan is to 

 buy a lot of ducks, and turn them into the 

 infested fields. 



Aphides are also very liable to attack 

 turnips, but it is generally when the plants 

 are so far advanced that the insects make 

 little impression upon them. (For remedies 

 see " Cabbage," &c, 



BRITISH BIRDS, THEIR 

 NESTS AND EGGS. 



By S. L. Mosley. 



27. REDWING. 

 Turdus iliacus, Linn, 

 Rodvinge trast (Sweden). 

 Miestag rasters (Lapland). 

 Iliacus, Ilia (L.). The flanks— probably 

 from the red colour being on the sides or 

 flanks. 



Size. — Length, about 8^ in. ; expanse 

 I ft. 2 in. 



Plumage. — Somewhat similar to the 

 Song Thrush, but the upper parts much 

 darker, the light streak over the eye more 

 distinct, less buff upon the breast, and the 

 feathers under the wings, brick red in the 

 Redwing, and yellow in the Thrush. 



• The Young is spotted and marked like 

 the young of the common Thrush, but 

 darker. 



Varieties. A white one is recorded, 

 Zool. Vol. xxi., p. 8484. One which lately 

 belonged to Mr. Alfred Beaumont, of Hud- 

 dersfield, was very similar in colour to the 

 variety of Song Thrush, figured from Mr. 

 Bond's collection. 



Note. — The ordinary note of the Red- 

 wing is a rather long drawn sibilous whistle, 

 often used when on the wing. Just before 

 the breeding season, however, it has a song 

 which is described as very melodious. It is 

 said to be the most beautiful songster of the 

 forests of Northern Scandinavia, where, 



from its habit of singing in the night, it is 

 known as the " Nightingale." It has some- 

 times been heard singing in this country. 



Flight.— The flight is performed by 

 quick flappings of the wings, and periods of 

 cessation. In this country they remain 

 somewhat in companies, either by them- 

 selves or with Fieldfares. 



Migration. — This species is migratory 

 between this country and the north of 

 Norway and Sweden. They arrive here at 

 the end of October, and depart again at the 

 end of April. 



Food. — Insects, worms, slugs, &c., form 

 the chief part of its food ; in hard weather 

 it will eat haws and other berries. 



In Confinement it may be treated like 

 the Thrush, except that it should be kept 

 in an out-door aviary. 



Habitat. — Very common in winter in 

 all parts of Britain. 



Abroad it is found in the greater part of 

 Europe, breeding in the north ; it moves to 

 the south on the approach of winter, and is 

 then found in parts of Asia and Africa. 



Nest. — The breeding home of the Red» 

 wing is in the pine forests of the north. The 

 nest is smaller and more neatly built than 

 that of the Fieldfare, and is composed of 

 moss, dry grass, roots, &c., mixed inwardly 

 with clay, and lined with fine grass. It is 

 placed in a bush, and often near to some 

 stream, and is commenced as soon as the 

 birds arrive at their breeding place. It has 

 been reported as breeding in England, but 

 it is doubtful if the reports are correct. 



Eggs. — From four to six. They some- 

 what resemble those of the Fieldfare, but 

 Mr. Wheelwright gives the following dis- 

 tinction : — "The egg of the Redwing is 

 always smaller, neater, and purer in colour 

 than that of the Fieldfare. It has, moreover, 

 when fresh, a peculiar green tinge, which, 

 however, fades soon after the egg is blown." 



