RING OUZEL AND BARN OWL 



7i 



Falcons, and Hawks. This isjnot the species from which 

 " osprey " feathers are obtained. A rare bird; majestic upon 

 the wing, and captures its prey with much adroitness. 

 Plumage. — On the head the feathers are white, dark towards the 

 centre ; neck the same, with a blackish-brown streak extending 

 in a downward direction; deep-brown upper plumage; white 

 underneath, with a tinge of yellow, and arrow-like spots on 

 breast; dusky bars on tail-feathers; dark-grey cere and beak; 

 yellow iris. Length. — Twenty-four inches. 



OUZEL, RING {Tardus torquatus) 



Local Names. — Convoy, Flitterchack, Michaelmas Blackbird, Moor 

 Blackbird, Mountain Blackbird, Mountain Ouzel, Phillip, Ring 

 Blackbird, Ring Thrush, Rock Ouzel, Rong Starling, Stirlin, 

 Tor Ouzel, Whistler, White-Throated Blackbird. 



Haunt. — Moors, mountains, glens, ravines, rocks, etc. 



Nesting Period. — End of April to June. 



Site of Nest. — On a steep bank under grass or heath, or among moss ; 

 in a clump of heather or in the fissure of a rock. 



Materials Used. — Coarse and fine grass. 



Eggs. — Four or Five. Light green in ground colour, handsomely 

 blotched with ash, fawn, and brown. 



Food. — Insects and their larvae, slugs, snails, and probably wild 

 moorland fruits. 



Voice. — The song is somewhat like that of the Mistle Thrush, con- 

 sisting of a few clear notes. 



Chief Features. — Haunts solitary places far from habitations. It is 

 like a Blackbird, with a white spot on the throat, but in habits, 

 as well as in voice, resembles the Mistle Thrush. A Summer 

 Migrant, arriving about the end of March or in early April. 



Plumage. — The plumage generally is black, with white edges to the 

 feathers ; a large crescent-shaped spot of white on the throat. 

 The female is greyer, and the white mark is not so pure white, 

 and is narrower than in the male bird. Length. — Eleven inches. 



OWL, BARN (Strix flammea) 



Local Names. — Billy Wix, Cherubim, Church Owl, Cream-Coloured 

 Owl, Gilli-Howlet, Hissing Owl, Hoolet, Howlet, Madge Howlett, 

 Madge Owl, Mag Oolie, Roarer, Screech Owl, White Owl, 

 Woolert, Yellow Owl. 



Haunt. — Woods, farmsteads, old buildings, church towers, etc. 



Site of Nest. — Holes of trees, in barns and other outbuildings, church 

 towers, ivy-clad ruins, etc. 



