10 THE WHEATEAR (STONE-SMATCH, 
both sexes are occasionally met with. In a district of France not 
far from Paris they are very numerous, and here the title to a certain 
estate used to be kept up by the annual presentation of a white 
Blackbird to the lordofthemanor. Large flocks from the Continent 
visit us in the autumn and winter. 
THE RING OUZEL 
TURDUS TORQUATUS 
Plumage black edged with greyish white ; a large crescent-shaped pure white 
spot on the throat ; bill and legs dusky. Female with the gorget smaller 
and tinged with red and grey, and the rest of the plumage greyer. Length 
ten inches. Eggs greenish white, spotted with reddish brown and grey. 
RING OvZEL is hardly an appropriate name for this bird; for in 
reality it does not wear a ring round its neck, but a white gorget 
on its breast, the contrast between which and its black plumage 
is very striking. It frequents the mountainous parts of Scotland 
and hilly parts of Derbyshire, and other wild parts where moors 
and hills are. Though never so abundant as the Blackbird and 
Thrush are in the plains, it is far from uncommon. It is a migratory 
bird, arriving in this country in April, and returning to its southern 
winter quarters—Corsica and other islands of the Mediterranean 
—early in autumn; not so early, however, as to miss the vintage 
season of the south of Europe. In summer it travels as far north 
as Sweden and Norway, where, on the authority of Mr. Hewitson, it 
is often seen ‘ enlivening the most bleakand desolate islands with its 
sweetsong. Itshares with the Redwing the name of Nightingale, and 
often delighted us in our midnight visits amongst the islands.’ 
Its habits and food while it remains with us are very similar to 
those of the Blackbird, and its nest, generally built among stones 
and bushes, near the ground, is constructed of the same materials 
with the nest of that bird. Towards the end of their sojourn in 
Britain, Ring Ouzels descend to the level countries, and are not un- 
frequently met with in gardens, whither they repair for the sake of 
feeding on fruit and berries. Inform and movements the Ring Ouzel 
is a more elegantly shaped bird than the Blackbird. 
THE WHEATEAR (STONE-SMATCH)} 
SAX{COLA GNANTHE 
Upper parts, in autumn reddish browr, in spring bluish grey ; wings and wing- 
coverts, centre and extremity of the tail, legs and feet, bill and area which 
comprises the nostrils, eyes and ears, black; base and lower portion of 
the side of the tail pure white; the chin, forehead, stripe over the eyes, 
and under parts are also white, and in autumn the tail-feathers are also 
tipped with white. Female—upper parts ash-brown, tinged with yellow ; 
stripe over the eyes dingy ; all the colours less bright. Length six anda 
half inches; breadth twelve inches. Eggs pale bluish green. 
DurING a considerable portion of its stay with us, open downs 
1 Stone-smatch in Yorkshire—from the Saxon, Steinschmatzer in German. 
