NATURE'S CAROL SINGERS. 



pure white. The female is rather lighter 

 coloured, and the white gorget on her 

 breast is neither so broad nor so pure. 



This species breeds in the West of 

 England, in the six northern counties, 

 and in suitable parts of Wales, Scotland, 

 and Ireland. 



Its song consists of a few clear, power- 

 ful notes that would sound out of place 

 if heard anywhere but amongst the bird's 

 wild, lonely surroundings. During a 

 calm spring evening the plaintive, lone- 

 some notes of the Mountain Blackbird, 

 as this species is sometimes called, can 

 be heard at a great distance because 

 the singer has a habit of delivering its 

 music from a high boulder or cairn. 



The alarm cry is a loud tac-tac-tac, 

 which is uttered with great volubility 

 and vehemence when the nest contain- 

 ing young ones is approached. 



I have found the nest of the Ring 

 Ouzel, which is a very similar structure 

 to that of the Blackbird, amongst long 

 heather growing upon a steep bank by 

 a burn-side, amongst rocks in the face 

 of small broken cliffs, under sheltering 

 stones projecting from the ground, on 

 steep hillsides, and in holes in old stone 

 walls. I once discovered one amongst 

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