lemans
MERULA TORQUATA
MERULA TORQUATA {Linn.).
RING-OUZEL.
Le Merle & collier, Briss. Orn. ii. p. 235 (1760); D’Aubent. PI. Enl. pi. 516.
Turdus torguatus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p .'296 (1766); Stejn. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. ix. p. 365
■ (1886).
Le Merle a plastron blanc, Montb. Hist. Nat. Ois. iii. p. 340 (1775).
Ming Ouzel, Lath, Gen. Syn. ii. pt.^1?; p. 46 (1783).
Merula torguata, Boie, Isis, 1822, p. 552; Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. v. p. 246 (1881).
Sylvia torguata, Savi, Om. Tosc. i. p. 206 (1827).
Copsychus torguatus, Kaup, Nat. Syst. p. 157 (1829).
Merula montana, Brehm, Yog, Deutschl. p. 375 (1831).
Merula collaris, Brehm, Yog. Deutschl. p. 376 (1831).
Thoracocincla torguata, Reichenb. Nat. Syst. pl.Jiii. fig. 12 (1850); Ridgw. Proc. U.S. Nat.
Mus. iv. p. 322 (1882).
M. torque praepectorali albo: subtus nigricans, plumis singulis albido inarginatis, sed minime medialiter albo
striatis: rostro nigricante, vel brunneo, band flavicante.
T h e Ring-Ouzel nests in Northern Europe, but is replaced in the Caucasus by M. orientalis and in
Central Europe by Merula alpestris. On migration M. torguata visits Southern Europe, as does
also M. alpestris, and they are then found in the same localities, but their breeding-ranges are
quite distinct.
In Great Britain the Ring-Ouzel nests in the high moorlands, and breeds regularly in
Dorsetshire and the western counties, while another favourite haunt is the Peak in Derbyshire.
I t is said to have “ nested in Hampshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Warwickshire, and similar counties, but
as a rule its breeding-places are in the wild and hilly districts of Cornwall, Devon, Somersetshire,
the Pennine backbone of England and its spurs; in Wales; and in the greater part of Scotland,
including the Orkneys, and most of the islands which present suitable features; to the Shetlands it
is comparatively a rare visitor ” (Howard Saunders, Man. 2nd ed. p. 15). In Ireland it nests in
suitable localities.
In the south of England it is a regular migrant, and was noticed in Hampshire by Gilbert White
a hundred years ago. I have myself seen it frequenting the gardens near Brighton on its way south
in the autumn, and this portion of the Sussex coast seems to be a favourite resting-place for the
species on its southern journey.
The Ring-Ouzel breeds on the mountains of Scandinavia up to the North Cape; and
Professor Collett contributes the following note to Mr. Dresser’s ‘Birds of Europe’ :—“ During
the season of migration, it is more or less numerous, in the lowlands, but is certainly the least
common of our Thrushes. I have observed it in small flocks of about a dozen individuals, but more
generally s i n g l y I t is found on the fells only, during the summer season, in all southern and eastern
portions of the country down to Christiania Stift, and breeds numerously in the birch regions; but
it seldom visits the subalpine regions, as at Ringerike, in Krogkleven. Along the west coast and