74 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX.
the back are white, with a few coloured feathers intermixed ; lower part of back
much lighter than usual ; upper tail-coverts nearly white ; tail feathers as usual,
except that two on each side and one near the middle, are white; under parts
white, except for a few coloured feathers on the throat and the usual darkly-
marked feathers on the sides of the breast ; wing-coverts and secondaries mostly
white, also a few of the primaries ; legs and bill lighter than usual.
There is no really-reliable evidence that the Fieldfare has ever yet bred in
this country, though not a few more or less unsatisfactory instances have been
from time to time recorded. For instance, Dr. Bree has recorded (29. June 12
and 18, 1869, & 34. 1864), what he regards as a " well-attested and proved
case" of the Fieldfare nesting and rearing young in the grounds of the
rectory at Alresford in 1869. The nest was built in the lower fork of the
boughs of a medlar-tree on the lawn. The gardener was certain that the
birds using the nest were not Mistle Thrushes, but further corroborative
evidence is wanting. It was afterwards sent to Dr. Bree, and I have seen it
in his collection, now in Mr. Harwood's possession. It is constructed exter-
nally of birch and fir twigs, also of moss, coarse bents, and a few roots, lined
with fine grass "and moss, which are the usual components of the nest of the
Mistle Thrush."
Blackbird : Turdus merula.
An abundant resident. There are good reasons for believing
that this species occasionally in-
terbreeds with the Song Thrush
in a state of nature. It varies
greatly in number from time to
time. Mr. Parsons records (35)
an invasion of Blackbirds on New
England Island, in October, 1836,
almost every hedge being full of
them for a week or two. White
or pied varieties are rather fre-
quent.
The following curious circumstance
blackbird, female, 1/4. is recorded in the Essex County Chron-
icle for June 10th, 1887 :—
" While two local constables [at Bradwell-on-Sea] were consulting for a few
minutes the other morning, a blackbird settled on the helmet of one of them,
where it remained some little time. It then flew on to a gate only a couple of
yards off and sang splendidly for ten minutes without showing the slightest sign
of fear."
The following also appears in the same paper for May 1st, 1877 :—
"There is a break-van at Mistley Station, which is used for the purpose of
' breaking down ' trucks to the quay, a distance of half-a-mile. This is used two
or three times a day, and is frequently left on the quay two hours before being
brought back to the siding in the yard. On the framework underneath the van,
a Blackbird and his mate have built their nest, and the latter is now sitting upon
four eggs, regardless of the frequent journeys to and fro."
On April 24th, 1878, Mr. F. G. Marriage found a nest containing four
fresh eggs at Springfield, built in the centre of a thousand-head cabbage.