ill winter seems otherwise unknown in Great Britain, for the
information, received by Pennant, as to its residing in Scotland
all the year round is plainly erroneous. I t also occasionally
happens that a nest is found in places far removed from
the usual summer-haunts of the species, and such instances
have been recorded, on more or less good authority, in Hampshire,
Suffolk, Norfolk, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire,
Warwickshire and Cheshire. In the rocky parts of Cornwall,
Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire, Wales,
Herefordshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Derbyshire and
thence northward to Caithness, the Ring-Ouzel, according to
the information collected by Mr. More, breeds regularly every
year. In Orkney Mr. Dunn says its nest is sometimes found,
while the bird has been frequently observed; but in Shetland
it is considered by Dr. Saxby to be only a passing visitor.
Bullock obtained a nest 011 one of the Hebrides, but Mr.
Gray has been unable to trace it on any of the islands of the
Outer group. I 11 Ireland it is found during summer in suitable
localities throughout the country.
The Ring-Ouzel visits almost the whole of Europe. In
Norway and Sweden it breeds from lat. 58° northward to the
Varanger Fjord, but, if found at all, it is very rare in the
interior of Swedish Lapland as well as in Finland; though
Prof. Lilljeborg met with it on the coast of Russian Lapland.
Pallas states that it never occurred to him in any part of the
Russian Empire which he visited, but he mentions its being
found in the Ukraine, the Crimea and the Caucasus (where
Menetries also killed it), and its having been received from
Persia. There is, however, no trace of it further to the
eastward than the Ural, where M. Martin is said to have procured
it. I t occurs in Turkey and Greece, but it is very rare
in the country last named. Keyserling and Blasius say it
is found in winter in Syria and in Egypt. Canon Tristram
never met with it in Palestine, but Dr. von Heuglin was
assured by Sig. Odescalchi of Cairo that he had often killed
it in Lower Egypt.
The chief wiuter-resort of the Ring-Ouzel seems not to be
at all known, for it does not appear to be very abundant at
ft*? W • , ■
that season either in the south of Europe or north of Africa,.
It occurs, however, in Algeria and has been noticed in
Morocco. In Portugal Mr. A. C. Smith reports it to be only
rarely seen. It breeds in the mountainous parts of Southern
Spain, according to Mr. Saunders, and there, as elsewhere,
descends in flocks to the lowlands towards autumn. Throughout
the greater part of France it is a bird of double passage,
but some remain to breed in the mountainous districts. The
same may probably be said of it with respect to Italy. It
has not been noticed in Sardinia, and in Sicily it is of rare
occurrence. Mr. Wright says it appears almost every year in
Malta with the other Thrushes, but is one of the rarest of
them. As to the rest of Europe, it would seem to occur not at
all unfrequently at the seasons of transit, and in nearly every
mountain district some remain to breed, while others may,
as in England, occasionally stop for the same purpose in
spots of a different character but yet sufficiently suitable.
In its appearance the Ring-Ouzel resembles the Blackbird ;
but, as already stated, it frequents wild and hilly uncultivated
tracts of country, rather than those which are enclosed and
inhabited. I t is strong of wing, shy and difficult of approach,
unless near the nest, when it becomes bold and
clamorous. Sir William Jardine, in liis ‘ Birds of Great
Britain and Ireland,’ observes that, while the lien is sitting,
the cock maybe heard from some “ elevated rock singing his
plaintive melody, consisting of a few notes uttered in a clear
and warbling whistle. In these situations he may be frequently
heard long before the eye can catcli his form, for,
perched 011 high, the colours of his plumage assimilate
with the grey rocks, and some motion often first discovers
him to the sight. When the young are hatched, the
parents fly around with anxious cries, and will venture to
attack either a dog or other animal.” Thompson says
that walking one summer’s evening near Belfast with bis dog
in advance, it was amusing to see two Riug-Ouzels pursuing
him, and striking the air violently within a few inches
of his head, uttering at the same time their loudest cries.
“ Many an earnest and expressive look the dog gave towards
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