158 HAUNTS AND HABITS. 



year. They were for the most part placed against the trunk 

 of a spruce fir ; some were, however, at a considerable dis- 

 tance from it, upon the upper surface, and towards the 

 smaller end of the thicker branches. They resembled those 

 of the Eing Ouzel. The outside is composed of stalks and 

 coarse grass, and weeds gathered wet, mixed together with 

 a small quantity of clay, and lined with a thick bed. None 

 of them yet contained more than three eggs, although we 

 afterwards found that five was more commonly the number 

 than four, and that even six was very frequent. They are 

 very similar to those of the Ring Ouzel.' Elsewhere we 

 find them described as light blue, mottled over with spots 

 of dark red brown, in length one inch and three lines. 



Macgillivray gives us the following account of the habits 

 of this bird : 



You see them at early dawn flying off to the fields in a loose 

 body, or meet them there even in the dim twilight ; but it seems 

 improbable that they remain at night in the open fields, as they are 

 never observed to crouch in the manner of the Larks, Pipets, and 

 other birds that repose on the ground. Their flight, which is easy 

 and rather slow, is performed with little undulations, by quickly 

 repeated flaps of the wings, the bird spreading out those organs, 

 making about twelve short flaps, and as it were intermitting one or 

 more. In this manner they proceed, uttering a kind of chuckling 

 chirp, until they arrive over a field on which they have a mind to 

 settle, when they perform several circling evolutions, and at length 

 alight. After settling, each is seen to stand still, with its wings 

 close, but a little drooping, its tail slightly declined, and its head 

 elevated. It then hops rapidly a few steps forward, stops, picks up 

 a seed, an insect, or other article of food, and again proceeds. 

 They generally move in the same direction, always facing the wind 

 if it be high, and those in the rear, especially if left far behind, fly 

 up to the front. "When alarmed, they all stand still for a short 

 time, some utter a low scream, and presently all fly off to a distance, 

 or alight on the tall trees in the neighbourhood. There they sit 

 gracefully on the twigs, with their tails declined, and generally with 

 their heads all directed one way, unless they have settled for the 

 purpose of resting or amusing themselves after procuring a suffi- 

 ciency of food. In fine weather they often enact a concert of long 

 duration, which, although their song is neither loud nor very melo- 

 dious, is very pleasant. When they are up on trees their attitudes 

 resemble those of the Blackbird ; but they do not frequent bushy 

 places, woods, or gardens, for the purpose of picking up snails, 

 worms, or larvae, but repair to the open fields and meadows, where 



