48 RURAL BIRD LIFE. 



for a short time, again alight at some distance from the 

 observer, for a shy and wary creature is the Ring Ousel, 

 and particularly so just after its arrival. They soon 

 separate into pairs, and spread themselves over the 

 moorland districts. Soon after their arrival the male 

 birds are heard singing in all directions; and, by exer- 

 cising a little caution in your approach, you may get 

 within a few yards of the bird, and thus observe him 

 closely. Monotonous as is the song of the Ring Ousel, 

 still its loud tones, and the noble bearing of the bird 

 itself, fully harmonise with the wild surroundings. 

 Perched very often on some storm-riven tree growing 

 out of the gray and massive rocks, the Ring Ousel, with 

 his white cravat glistening in the sun, pours forth his 

 notes — notes resembling those of the Starling, the piping 

 of the Blackbird, and the varied tones of the Song-thrush. 

 The bird after several- piping notes calls forth in harsh 

 tones, as if in mockery of his own performance. Motion- 

 less he sits, with probably a minute between each snatch 

 of song. If alarmed, his wild notes cease, and, with his 

 loud cries echoing in the rocks around, he flys off to a 

 more secluded resting-place. Whenever I stray on to 

 the wild moorlands in summer, the Ring Ousel, with his 

 loud call notes of tac tac tac, tac tac tac, comes forth to 

 meet me, and seems to challenge my right of approach. 

 He alights on the boulders of rocks before me, and flits 

 from bush to bush as I wander on. I observe him 

 closely, and I find he possesses the habit in common 

 with the Blackbird of elevating the tail upon alighting. 

 His female, with her more dingy garb, keeps out of sight 

 and is more rarely seen. 



On the rugged sides of the steep mountain gorges 

 which occur so frequently in the wild and lonely Peak 

 of Derbyshire ; in some stunted bush on the gorse and 



