CHAPTER XXX. 



The Redwing. 



Turdus iliacus, Lin. ; Mauvis, Buf. 



Description and Ohaeacter. — The Redwing, or Wind Thrush, 

 is rarely kept as a cage bird, but may occasionally be found 

 in an aviary. It is a peaceably disposed, sociable bird, and 

 soon becomes very tame and familiar with its owner if kept 

 in a cage or aviary. 



The Redwing is about 8in. in length, the tail measuring 

 Sin. The beak is bluish black, margined with yellow ; the under 

 mandible, likewise, is yellow at the base. The irides are dark 

 brown. The head, neck, and back, as well as the small wing 

 coverts, are pale olive-brown ; the rump is the same colour, 

 but paler in hue. A stripe of rusty yellowish white extends 

 from the base of the bill beyond the eyes. The cheeks are 

 pale brown, striped with yellow, and are surrounded by a 

 faint yellowish line, which terminates in a small orange-buff 

 patch at the side of the head. The throat and breast are 

 greyish white, tinged with yellow, and freely mottled with a 

 number of small, triangular, brown spots. The belly, sides, 

 and vent are greyish white, the belly and vent being sparsely 

 marked with faint greenish brown spots, and the sides with 

 russet brown. The wings are brown, the flights, or pen feathers, 

 and large wing coverts, being mottled with russet or reddish 

 brown ; the two lateral pen feathers have white tips, and the 

 larger wing coverts are tipped with reddish yellow. The tail 

 is pale brown, shaded with grey, and is margined with a 

 lighter hue of the same colour. The legs are whitish flesh- 

 colour, and the feet willow. 



