THE RING OUSEL, 51 



and very probably keep in flocks throughout the winter, 

 and until they return once more to their northern 

 breeding-grounds. The moors glow in all the splendour 

 of their purple tints, the woods and coppices are already 

 touched by autumn's magic wand, and the Ring Ousels 

 must not tarry. To do so would probably be death ; for 

 peaceful and lovely as the scene now appears, the winter 

 is nigh with all its terrors, and the Ring Ousels, by Nature's 

 mandates commanded, leave the moor and the moun- 

 tain, to spend their winter secure in a southern clime. It 

 has been said that the Ring Ousel winters in England ; 

 but from my knowledge of the habits of this bird, 

 the case is only analogous with the Swallow, 



E2 



