158 FAMILIAR WILD BIBBS. 



western extremities of our island, but Hampshire, Dorset- 

 shire, Devonshire, Cornwall, Kent, Surrey, Suffolk, Norfolk, 

 and Sussex may be mentioned as counties where it is to be 

 met with. It is, however, as already intimated, a lover 

 of the '^ mountain and the moor,^^ and its scarcity increases 

 just in proportion as these geographical characteristics are 

 few and far between. 



For about a fortniof-ht in the bes^inning* of October 

 these birds may be seen in flocks, varying' from twenty to 

 thirty, in many places along the coast-line of our southern 

 counties, notably near some of the Devonshire headlands, 

 and in the Island of Portland (where they are familiarly 

 spoken of as " Michaelmas Blackbirds ^^). These flocks, after 

 remaining near the coast for twelve or fourteen days, 

 suddenly disappear, doubtless passing over to France, and 

 thence to the northern part of Africa. They are said to 

 breed regularly on the Dartmoor Hills, but the higher 

 moorlands and hilly districts of Yorkshire, Derbyshire, 

 and Scotland are their most commonly used breeding 

 grounds. The Ring Ouzel is also found in Wales, Ireland, 

 and various parts of Scotland, and in some of the European 

 countries, particularly Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and 

 Switzerland. 



The food of the Ring Ouzel consists of insects, small snails, 

 seeds, berries — especially those of the elder, juniper, holly, 

 and mountain ash ; the bird occasionally displays a strong 

 partiality for grapes and fruit of various kinds, and when 

 there happen to be fruit gardens within reasonable distance 

 of its haunts it frequently becomes a persistent and 

 unwelcome visitor. This characteristic is most noticeable 

 after the young birds have to provide for themselves. 



The nest somewhat resembles in structure and material 



