The Fieldfare. 



229 



all admiration for it. There are pied and albino specimens 

 to be found, though the latter are very rare. 



Habits and Breeding. — The Fieldfare inhabits all parts of 

 Europe, but Norway, Sweden, and the northern parts of 

 Eussia, are the countries where it chiefly breeds. It is, as 

 already stated, merely a visitant to this country, and principally 

 frequents Scotland (where it is very common) and the Northern 

 counties of England. It only goes southward preparatory to 

 migration, or when compelled, by stress of weather, to search 

 for food. It is of a gregarious nature, and, in some of its 

 habits, strikingly resembles the Redwing, with which it 

 fraternises very freely. The Redwing differs in this respect 

 — it roosts in hedges, bushes, and thickets, whereas the Field- 

 fare roosts, like the Lark, on the ground, in the open fields. 



In wet and stormy weather Fieldfares resort for shelter 

 to hillsides which are covered with furze or underwood. 

 They likewise roost on the banks of running streams — a 

 somewhat favourite spot — and occasionally, but very rarely, 

 in trees, and then only when the ground covering is sparse, 

 or, probably, when they are aware of predatory animals 

 prowling in the neighbourhood. When scared by the sudden 

 report of a gun, they frequently alight upon a tall tree. 

 Pine trees appear to be their choice, and to these they 

 resort to preen their feathers, or bask in the sunshine in 

 the early morning. Fieldfares reach our island about the 

 latter part of October, or beginning of November, according 

 to the mildness or otherwise of the season, and leave again 

 at the end of March, or early in April, if the winds are 

 favourable. They, like their congeners, the Redwings, are 

 bad fliers in boisterous weather, and appear to be entirely 

 at the mercy of the storm. If pursued during a gale of 

 wind, they will not attempt to fly unless very closely 

 pressed, and even then will only fly two or three yards, 

 and again alight, and hide among the thick grass, under 

 a bush or furze, or among nettles or thistles. In fine 

 weather it requires some stratagem to get within gunshot 

 of them, especially if you have fired once or twice at a 

 flock, and shot one or two. In fact, they generally fly right 

 away in such cases, though they return again to the same 

 spot in a short time, as they never leave a place where food 

 is easily obtainable until the supply is exhausted. 



