white’s thrush. 
81 
and the base, marked with an elongated patch of 
the same colour, presenting, when the wing is 
partly closed, the appearance of two transverse 
fasciae across the whole of the quill feathers ; 
spurious wing, ochraceous, tipped with black ; 
greater wing coverts, with the outer webs, ochra- 
ceous ; lesser and middle wing coverts, ochra- 
ceous, with a large spot of black on each web ; 
legs and bill of nearly the same colour as in the 
Missel-Thrush ; claws horn colour ; size rather 
larger than that of the Missel-Thrush.”* 
The Fieldfare, Merula pilaris — Turdus 
pilaris, Linn. — La Litorne of the French, 
Field or Fieldfare of British authors. — It is 
nearly equal in size to the Missel-Thrush, and 
is clothed in colours more gay, but as chastely 
and beautifully blended, and instead of remaining 
with us during the whole year, is one of our most 
regular and abundant visiters in winter. Its time 
of arrival is late in November, generally at least 
a fortnight subsequent to that of the Redwings, 
and it appears sometimes in vast flocks, and 
commonly in parties of not less than thirty or 
forty together. On arrival, they often betake 
themselves to the vicinity of the berry-bearing 
trees, where they remain until the crop has been 
entirely stripped. The fruit of the mountain ash 
is a great favourite, and being nearly ripe about 
the time of their arrival, is eagerly sought after. 
As the winter advances, and these supplies fail, 
* Eyton’s Rare British Birds, p. 93, 94. 
F 
