TURDIN.t. 



15 



THE RINCx-OUZEL. 



TuRDUs TORQUATUS, Linnccus. 



The Ring-Ouzel is the only Thrush which is entirely absent from 

 our islands during the winter ; for although, in exceptionally mild 

 years, individuals have been known to remain as late as Christmas, 

 the majority leave in September and October the wilder and more 

 elevated districts in which they have passed the summer; and, after a 

 comparatively short stay in the lowlands to feed upon the autumnal 

 berries, they depart for the south. In April the Ring-Ouzel returns, 

 and pairs are said to have nested occasionally in Hampshire, Suffolk, 

 Norfolk, Warwickshire, and similar counties, but as a rule its 

 breeding-places are in the wild and hilly districts of Cornwall, Devon, 

 Somersetshire, the Pennine backbone of England and its spurs ; 

 Wales ; and the greater part of Scotland, including most of those 

 islands which present suitable features, except the Orkneys and the 

 Shetlands, to which it is comparatively a rare visitor. In Ireland it 

 frequents the mountainous districts in limited numbers during the 

 summer. 



In Scandinavia it breeds from about 58" N. lat. northward, while 

 eastward it is found in suitable localities as far as portions of the 

 Ural Mountains, beyond which the steppes appear to act as a 

 barrier. It is said to breed sparingly in the south of Holland 



