200 BRITISH BIRDS 



heather, but also in a bush or on a tree at varying heights 

 from the ground. The eggs are pale bluish-green speckled 

 and streaked, particularly at the larger end, with purplish- 

 brown, but they vary a good deal in appearance even in 

 the same nest. 



The young are readily brought up by hand if treated 

 as recommended for those of the Song Thrush. 



The Ring Ouzel is a healthy and hardy bird, that 

 seldom ails unless as the result of injudicious treatment, 

 when a return to a more suitable dietary will promptly 

 effect a cure, if the case is not too far gone. 



Morris writes of the song of the Ring Ouzel, that it is 

 desultory, but sweet — a few plaintive notes uttered in a 

 clear warbling whistle. Bechstein compares it to that of 

 the Blackbird, and says that, although hoarser and deeper, 

 its voice nevertheless is more harmonious and agreeable. 

 It does not, however, appear to possess the same facility 

 for acquiring the notes of other birds, or of imitating an 

 artificial melody, as its sable-coated congener the Blackbird. 



When shown, the Ring Ouzel should always be entered 

 in the "Migratory Class" and not in that appropriated to 

 the Thrushes, though we have seen it awarded a prize in 

 the ''Any Other Variety" section as well as in the IMigratory, 

 and receive a disdnction in both, which was manifestly 

 unfair or at least said little for the attention paid to his 

 work by the judge ; the only explanation being that the 

 decision in both cases did not rest with the same person. 



The Song Thrush. 



This universal favourite is, most unfortunately, becoming 

 of less frequent occurrence in many places day by day, 

 for not only do some of our epicures imitate the French 

 in eating him, but he is much persecuted by horticulturists 

 in consequence of the erroneous belief that he does them 

 a vast amount of harm, w4iile a severe winter decimates 

 the ranks of survivors from all other sources of danger. 



Without boasting of the brilliant colouring that be- 

 longs to many tropical and to some of our indigenous 

 species, the Song Thrush is really a very handsome 



