4 
THE BIRDS OF HAMPSHIRE. 
There is no authentic instance of either the redwing 
or fieldfare having nested within our h'mits, though both 
species occasionally remain until late in the spring or even 
until early summer. The record of a nest in Kelsall's list 
is a mistake, the Alresford there mentioned being in Essex. 
Gilbert White wrote ^ that he had "discovered an anecdote 
with respect to the fieldfare, which I think is particular 
enough : this bird, though it sits on trees in the daytime, 
and procures the greater part of its food from white-thorn 
hedges ; yea, moreover, builds on very high trees ; yet 
always appears with us to roost on the ground. They are 
seen to come in flocks just before it is dark, and to settle 
and nestle among the heath in our forest. And besides, 
the larkers, in dragging their nets by night, frequently 
catch them in the wheat-stubbles ; while the bat-fowlers, 
who take many redwings in the hedges, never entangle 
any of this species." 
Hawker's "Diary" for February 2nd, 1831, records: 
" A tremendous hurricane, with an overwhelming fall of 
snow, and with the wind south-west. An extraordinary 
influx of fieldfares, not less than 20,000, dispersed round 
Keyhaven and Westover, and so tame that you might 
have kept firing from morning till night, though I found it 
impossible to get more than five at a shot. After killing 
as many as I wanted, without even moving from the hedge 
I took shelter under, I weathered the storm It was 
quite laughable when the storm ceased this afternoon to 
see and hear the levy £fi masse of tag-rag popgunners 
blazing away at the fieldfares. The whole country for 
miles round was in one incessant state of siege. 
" Next day, when the snow had changed to rain, all this 
^ Letter xxvii. to Pennant. Selborne. February 22nd, 1770. 
