FIELDFARE. 
TUIWUS PILARIS. 
to til f f " the British Islauds considerably according 
floll of T? T’T ““ "either I have freqnently remarked large 
scvera hundreds harbouring about various remote parts of the country, where a combination of 
arge woods and cultivated land afforded suitable quarters; here they will resort for weeks, if not months, 
till a sudden change causes them to move onward, their course in the first instance being held for the 
south On reaching the coast-line, the large flights that have by tins time eollected pursue their journey 
owaids the west Should the winter continue open, it is quite possible tliat in many districts not a single 
in tl“"l'' /“ -I r *““*»''* “e frequently made by local observers 
the pages of oinitliological publications concerning the absence of the Fieldfare. 
Early in January 1880 two or three reports to this effect appeared ; and up to that date, though almost 
ai y miiig along the coast between Brighton and Shoreham since the first week in the previous December 
not a single specimen had come under my notice. On the 17th of January, after a sharp white frost in 
tm early morning, ram fell without intermission during the day, and at dusk a floek of from forty to fifty 
le dfares were discerned through the mist making their way to roost in a plantation on the downs Half 
a dozen that I bagged to ascertain their condition were as fat as butter, proving that the quarters they 
selected had been suited to their wants. But small numbers were seen during tbe remainder of the winter 
or early spring in the vicinity of the south coast, though on the 10th of March, when about a dozen miles 
inland in the well-wooded country near St. John’s Common, I discovered the haunts the birds had taken 
up since their annval in the south ; from five to seven hundred were busily feeding on the ploughed ground 
betaking themselves, when disturbed, to the large timber, many trees being perfectly covered by the swarms 
se Img on the branches. Ihese Fieldfares, I learned, on making inquiries, had been for many weeks in the 
distriet. On visiting the spot a fortnight later the greater number had taken their departure. 
M hen gunning on the north-east coast of Scotland, I repeatedly remarked large arrivals at the usual 
season during autumn, though should the weather prove open but few reach the southern counties of 
England. From observations obtained during several years, I am of opinion that much the same numbers 
annually land on our shores, though in mild winters their presence may escape the notice of ornitholooists • 
a severe storm, however, puts the large flocks in motion, and during their flight from north to south oi^ast 
to west they are certain to attract attention. 
The 16th of September. 1868, is the earliest date on which I noted Fieldfares in the Iti-rhlands ■ small 
parties then continued making their way south across the hills near Tain for several days. The main bodies 
as a rule, do not reach our coast till a somewhat later date, though I have detected them as far south as 
Cornwall soon after the middle of October. On tbe 19tii, weather at the time cold and stormy, a party 
