THE RING OUZEL. 



MOUNTAIN solitudes, with lonely crag- 

 strewn glens and rough, deep gulches, 

 " far removed from the busy haunts of 

 men," form the home of this brave, in- 

 dependent bird. If a few stunted rowan 

 or whitethorn trees peep shyly from 

 sheltered corners and crevices here and 

 there the better will the situation be 

 liked. 



The Ring Ouzel arrives in this country 

 in April and quits our shores again during 

 September and October. It is about 

 the same size as the Common Blackbird, 

 and behaves more or less like a member 

 of that well-known species. In colour 

 it is dull black with an edging of dark 

 grey to the feathers. Across the chest 

 stretches a broad crescent-like band of 

 43 



