The Redwing. 229 
were soon reduced to a miserably dilapidated condition, the 
feathers were missing from the crowns of their heads, their 
flight and tail feathers were chafed and broken, and I seriously 
thought on more than one occasion of lil)eraling them. How- 
ever, they became more reconciled as spring approaclied, and 
about May the cock commenced to sing, and this was the only 
redeeming feature of their captivity ; during the summer this 
bird sang for hours at a time, usually while sitting on the ground. 
The song was not very loud and. at the best, was but a very 
wheezy, asthmatical performance, without a single clear note. 
In course of time they became comparatively tame, but 
they always gave me the impression that they slept with one eye 
open, and, as it was practically impossible lo approach the aviary 
at night without disturbing them, I have noticed this trait in the 
wild Redwing; approach their roosting place with the greatest 
caution and before you can get within ten yards you are perceived, 
the alarm is given, and off goes the whole flock to a place of 
greater security. My Inrds never appeared to find pleasure in 
each other's society, or showed the slightest desire to set up 
housekeeping ; in fact I got rather tired of them, and after they 
bad moulted in mid-August of the present year, I gave them 
their liberty. 
The Redwing appears to l)e more strictly insectivorous 
than the other British Thrushes, but my birds would occasionally' 
eat a little very ripe banana. In spite of the beauty of its 
plumage the Redwing is perhaps the least interesting in captivity 
of all the Thrushes, for, wild as it is when first caught, as soon as 
it becomes accustomed to its surroundings and has overcome its 
natural timidity, it goes to the other extreme, and will sit in one 
position for hours at a stretch, either on the ground or on a 
secluded branch, only moving to visit the food. I am afraid I 
have said nothing very flattering of the Redwing in captivity, 
but he has other good points in addition to his striking plumage ; 
he is a very small eater, is quite harmless to his weakest fellow 
captive, lie never seeks a quarrel, and, when another bird dis- 
putes with him, he is always willing to give way on any point, 
and leave the victory with his often very much smaller opponent. 
* * * 
