The Fieldfare. 37° 

of eggs is four or five. The Fieldfare is very common 
with us in winter: if the weather be mild, it resorts to 
damp pastures, newly-manured ground, and marshy 
land, where it feeds on worms and grubs; but if frosty 
and the ground covered with snow, it takes to haw- 
bushes and holly trees, soon making the fruits of these 
_ vanish, before the severity of winter has long set in. 
Fieldfares are very fat and nice eating, and, at such 
places as I have last described, afford good sport to 
youlemcporsmen, as several can be shot at once. 
They are not easily frightened, for they will return to 
the same place where, perhaps only a few minutes 
ago, there has been a line cut through their numbers 
with a charge of shot: this is the only time in England 
they give such an opportunity of being taken. These 
birds go about the country in flocks, rarely losing 
sight of each other; and when one of. their number 
sees danger, it gives the alarm, and the whole lot pack 
. together, and generally fly to some distance before 
alighting again, which will be on the top of a tree— 
they prefer the ash to any other tree. 

