BIRDS. 183 
tened, to the great profit of their proprietors, who sold 
them to Roman epicures for three denarii, or about two 
shillings sterling each. 
THE FIELDFARE (Turdus pilaris,) 
Is a well-known bird in this country. Fieldfares fly in 
flocks, together with the redwing and starlings, and shift 
places according to the season of the year. They abide 
with us in winter, and disappear in spring, so punctually, 
that after that time not one is to be seen. The flesh is 
esteemed a great delicacy. The head is ash-coloured, and 
spotted with black : the back and coverts of the wings of 
a deep chesnut colour ; the rump cinereous ; and the tail 
black, except the lower part of the two middle feathers, 
which are ash-coloured, and the upper sides of the exte- 
rior feathers, which are white. They collect in large 
flocks ; and it is supposed they keep watch, like the crow, 
to remark and announce the approach of danger. On any 
person approaching a tree that is covered with them, they 
continue fearless, till one at the extremity of the bush, 
rising on its wings, gives a loud and peculiar note of 
alarm. They then all fly away, except one other, which 
continues till the person approaches still nearer, to cer- 
tify, as it were, the reality of the danger, and afterward? 
he also flies off, repeating the note of alarm. 
