180 
EEDWTTO. 
fields, where, standing for a while motionless, with the head 
turned towards the wind, if there be any, the wings slightly 
drooped, and the tail straight or a little raised, each individual, 
on perceivng what it is in search of, a worm, caterpillar, 
beetle or other insect, hops briskly to the spot, and makes 
its meal. When such food is hidden by snow, they resort to 
hawthorn and holly bushes, and partake of this frugal fare; 
and if this supply in turn fails, they are compelled to seek 
the margins of streams, where some scanty resources may still 
be to be found, and, as before observed, turn also to the 
neighbourhood of the ocean. In very severe seasons numbers 
perish from the effects of cold and hunger. The years 1799, 
1814, and 1822 were peculiarly fatal to them. 
The song of the Redwing, a veritable ‘Swedish Nightingale/ 
known indeed in the northern countries by the name of that 
bird, is described as being exceedingly beautiful. ‘Its high 
and varied notes/ says Linnseus, in his ‘Tour in Lapland/ 
‘rival those of the Nightingale herself.’ It is loud, sweet, 
clear, and musical, with yet a wildness, which gives it an 
inexpressible charm in the ear of the lover of such strains 
as Jenny Lind has so enchantingly cultivated, and which give 
such expression to her Norse songs. It has however an 
ordinary note as well, and about the end of March, and the 
beginning of April, large numbers of these birds may be seen 
collected together at the top of a tree, and uttering together 
a not unpleasing kind of murmuring concert, more or less 
loud: singly heard, however, their ordinary note is a rather 
harsh clear scream. 
The nest is placed in the centre of a thorn or other bush, 
alder, birch, or other tree, and is made of moss, roots, and 
dry grass outwardly, cemented together with clay, and lined 
inwardly with finer grass. 
The eggs are said to be found in June, and to be towards 
six in number, of a pale bluish green, spotted with reddish 
brown. 
Meyer says that two broods are reported to be reared in. 
the year. 
Male; length, from about eight inches and a quarter to 
eight and three quarters; bill, brownish black above and on 
the end of the lower mandible; the inner half is orange 
yellow, as are the edges of the upper part: a band of yellowish 
white runs from the base of the bill half way down the neck, 
and a continuous line of closely-set dark spots. Iris, brown 
