RIXG OUZEL. 131 



occasionally nest on the breeding- grounds of the Ring 

 Ouzel, but the Ring Ouzel never invades the normal 

 area of the Blackbird, being confined strictly to moor- 

 lands and their immediate vicinity. With this exception 

 the eggs of the present species cannot readily be 

 confused with those of any other Thrush breeding within 

 our area. 



Family TURDID/E. Genus Merula- 



Sub-family TURDIN.-E. 



RING OUZEL. 



Merula torquata (yLmnmis). 

 Single Brooded. Breeding season, April and May. 



British breeding area : To a very great extent the 

 range of the Ring Ouzel is similar to that of the Red 

 Grouse, but it extends a little more to the south. It 

 may be met with breeding on the Cornish Heights, on 

 the moors of Devonshire and the wild hills of Somerset, 

 the Cambrian Mountains, the Pennine Chain, the 

 Cheviots, and northwards locally throughout Scotland, 

 in districts suited to its requirements, including some 

 of the Inner Hebrides, but not reaching either the 

 Orkneys or the Shetlands. It is more sparingly and 

 locally distributed throughout the mountain moorlands 

 of Ireland. Instances of this species breeding in Kent, 

 Suffolk, Norfolk, Leicestershire, and Warwickshire have 

 been recorded, but such cases are very exceptional. 



Breeding habits : The Ring Ouzel is a summer 

 migrant to our islands, reaching them in small numbers 

 in March, but more generally in April Its haunts are the 



