ITS BIRDS. 85
can measure the craft of this wily bird ? So far as I am
aware, not a single specimen has been entrapped.
Starling. Perhaps the most abundant bird in the district
after the sparrow, but he was a very rare bird in many
parts of England fifty years ago. In hard weather
about thirty come every morning to be fed on my lawn.
Ring Ousel. A fine cock-bird seen on Mr. Venables' wall
and in his garden at the entrance to Wanstead Park on
5th September 1877. " Many years ago I saw one in my
father's fields at Upton at the time of the spring migra-
tion. "—A. L. One was seen in the spring of 1884 by the
River Roding, and other instances have been recorded.
GREEN WOODPECKER.
Song Thrush. Abundant in the autumn, but almost absent
in mid-winter.
Blackbird. Abundant. We owe much of the music of the
woods to these two birds.
Redwing. Large numbers roost in the denser thickets dur-
ing hard winters, especially when there is a good supply
of holly and other berries. At sunset they come troop-
ing in from all quarters, and sweep round the trees in
graceful flight before settling down for the night in the
lower brushwood.
Fieldfare. In hard weather they come close to the houses to
feed on holly berries.