REDWING. 
89 
that stunted to a dwarf, weather-beaten shrub, the Red¬ 
wing builds amongst its branches, frequently support¬ 
ing the nest upon those which overhang rocky ground. 
Sometimes the nest is placed at the base of the tree’s 
trunk, and often upon a bare ledge of rock like that of 
the ring ouzel, which frequents similar desert wilds. 
The Redwing is the only thrush in Iceland. It breeds 
in single pairs; and Mr. Proctor thinks that it has two 
broods in a season, that the first eggs are laid at the 
beginning of June on the south of the island, but that 
they are later by ten days on the north side. The eggs 
are usually four or five in number, and sometimes, 
though rarely, six. Those that I have figured are from 
the collection of Mr. Wilmot, both supplied by Mr. Proc¬ 
tor. They are usually somewhat smaller than those of 
the fieldfare, but at times, as will be seen by the second 
figure of the plate, do not differ from eggs of that species. 
They also closely resemble eggs of the blackbird and 
ring ouzel. Indeed we have no genus of birds in which 
the eggs of several species are so much alike. 
Mr. Wolley, who has taken up his quarters at Muonio- 
niska in Tornea Lapmark for the winter, says that the 
Redwing “ makes its nest near the ground, in an open 
part of the wood, generally in the outskirts, on a stump, 
a log, or the roots of a fallen tree, sometimes amongst 
a cluster of young stems of the birch, usually quite ex¬ 
posed, so as almost to seem as if placed so purposely, 
the walls often supported only by their foundation. The 
first or coarse part of the nest is made for the most part 
of dried bents, sometimes with fine twigs and moss; this 
is lined with a thin layer of dirt, and then is added a 
thick bed of fine grass of the previous year, compactly 
woven together, which completes the structure. Outside 
is often a good deal of the kind of lichen called rein-deer 
