\ 



20 BLACK-AND-WHITE BIRDS. 



more coarsely blotclied with reddish-brown; 1*1 x '85 

 inch (plate 122). 



Nest. — Like that of the Blackbird, of rootlets, 

 coarse grass, plastered with mud, and lined with finer 

 grass ; placed in heather and ling, and on ledges in 

 rocks and banks, also in low bushes. 



Distribution. — In rugged hill-country throughout 

 the British Isles, 



The Ring-Ouzel, or ' Mountain-Blackbird,' well earns 



the latter denomination, in its size, shape, generally 



black plumage, long tail and yellow bill, flight, 



hopping gait, and gestures so closely resembling the 



Blackbird as easily to be confounded with it but for 



one obvious distinguishing mark — the broad white 



band at the throat. When viewed more nearly the 



sooty-black plumage is seen to be relieved by gray 



mai'gins to the feathers. It is a bird of the hill- 



countr}^ and rarely found nesting elsewhere, though 



it may be encountered in the lowlands when making 



its way to and from its nesting haunts at the spring 



and autumn migrations. Like the Blackbird, the 



King-Ouzel has the habit of throwing up and fanning 



its long tail when in the act of alighting. Its song, 



too, has in it something of the Blackbird's, but is 



more rugged and given with robuster energy. The 



nest may be placed among heather, but more often 



a niche in a rock, stone wall, bank of a stream, or 



similar support is selected. The birds return in April 



and depart in September, though some may linger in 



the lowlands until near the end of the year. 



STARLING — 8^ inches ; gregarious ; a walking bird ; 

 feather-edgings buff; no throat-band. 



