REDWING. 
TURBUS ILIACUS. 
riloCGH apparently good evidence has been obtained concerning tlie nesting of the Eedwing in the British 
s nds on more than one occasion, I have entirely failed to meet witl. the species during the summer months 
sl3 tf I “ tf f-'f ™ -l^ooting-lodteTn t 
, d of Lewis, the birds being exceedingly fearless, merely withdrawing to the shelter of a few stunted bushes 
rmaw” '• ” u T *° "P *'““ “ eontentei: 
Bie male singing gaily whenever a gleam of sunshine lighted up the dreary and well-nigh deserted glen, I was 
r sieriL an f ‘’“r'Y"*' *'“ Unfortunately, on the 1st of Jlay, the cock was killed by 
eilin, and a few days later the feathers of his mate, who had also evidently been destroyed by a Hawk! 
weie oitnc near le same spot. On but one or two other occasions were Eedwings observed so late as Jlav 
even m the more northern comities of Scotland, 
1 have hut seldom met with any number of this species in the south of England till November. The earliest 
en IJ in my notes concerning their arrival on the north-east coast of Scotland is under date of September 1(1, 
,, ; U'^t ““Sion passing south over the Eoss-shire hills. Though the southern parts of 
leat Biitain arc usually deserted at an earlier date, stragglers may frequently be seen in the north till well on 
in April, and (as previously stated) a bird or two has come under my notice in May. 
A considerable dilference of opinion exists concerning the note of tl.e Eedwing, some writers compariu- 
he song to tlmt of the Nightingale, while others hold its vocal powers in but slight estimation. Durim. the 
last week m December 1879 a fine male took up his quarters in a small plantation in our own garden "near 
ighton. For several weeks he daily made bis appearance under the windows to claim his share with the regular 
pensioners. After a time a steangc note was frequently heard; and watching closely, I detected the Eedwimr 
died on a hircli tree, littering a low and someivhat plaintive warble. The bird remained till March, taking 
his departure during the second week ; its song appeared to increase in power as the weather grew warmer " 
At roostmg-time Eedwings usually repair to the shelter of woods and plantations where the timber'is of 
no great height, also to dense hedgerows and shrubberies in the vicinity of dwellings ; when the wind blows 
CO a s lelteied and lonely situation is chosen, though in mild and open weather they perch at a higher elevation 
Numbers arc at times taken in bat folding nets; but a keen and wintry blast is necessary to Lure success.' 
1 - ining fiom flight-shooting on Somorton Broad, in the oast of Norfolk, during March 1871, 1 disturbed 
on two conseeutive nights immense numbers that, in company with Fieldfares, had taken up their quarters in a 
aige bed of lecds and flags. Since that date I have not met with these birds in a similar spot, though by day 
locks were i^peatedly watched searching about among the reeds in the water-dykes in Pevensey Level durin» 
the cold weather in January 18C7. Whether food or simply shelter was their object in creeping among th°e 
stems of the p ants it was impossible to ascertain, the naturalist to whom some specimens obtained were 
sent having neglected to make the necessary examination. 
