124 OUR FAVOURITE SONG BIRDS 



Southern Europe was distinguished by Brehm as 

 Meriila alpestris ; whilst that frequenting the Cau- 

 casus has been separated by Seebohm as Merida 

 orientalis. The typical form of the Ring Ouzel 

 retires southwards to winter in the basin of the 

 Mediterranean. 



The Ring Ouzel is a rather early spring migrant 

 to the British Islands, reaching its more southern 

 haunts at the end of March or early in April, the 

 more northern ones a few days later. The birds 

 appear to migrate in companies ; certainly they 

 arrive on the northern moorlands in flocks which 

 gradually disperse over the surrounding country 

 to the chosen nesting-places. The haunts of this 

 handsome bird are the rocky moorlands, the craggy 

 banks of the upland streams, the wind-swept sum- 

 mits of the peaks and tors. In its habits the 

 present species very closely resembles the Black- 

 bird. It may not be so skulking ; it has neither 

 cause nor opportunity to be so ; for its wild haunts 

 are little frequented by creatures liable to work it 

 harm, and bushes and thickets are by no means 

 common in these upland solitudes. Indeed the 

 Ring Ouzel prefers to haunt the rocks rather than 

 the trees, and when not upon the ground in quest of 

 food may usually be seen sitting on the crags. It is 

 wary enough, especially if not engaged in nesting 

 duties, and in this respect almost exactly resembles 

 the Mistle-Thrush. Upon the ground its actions 



