292 THE RING-OUZEL. 



Sweden all the year round ;" whence the inference is, that 

 only a portion migrate. 



The Ring-Ouzel (Ring-Trast, or Ring-Thrush, Sw. ; T. 

 torquatus, Linn.). Nilsson tells us, that save during migra- 

 tion, this bird is never seen but in the more northern parts 

 of Scandinavia. In this matter, however, the Professor is 

 somewhat in error ; for according to M. von Wright, it 

 breeds annually in the neighbouring Skargard ;* and the 

 presumption therefore is that it nests in the vicinity of Ron- 

 num also. We ourselves, however, only noticed the ring-ouzel 

 during the autumnal months, when on its way to more genial 

 climes. But at such times it was seldom or never seen in 

 large flocks more generally indeed singly, or in pairs. 



* The belt of islands which, as said, gird in many parts the Scandinavian 

 coasts, as well those of the Baltic as of the North Sea. Some of these islands 

 of the Skargard in my neighbourhood I speak are of considerable extent, 

 bnt by far the larger portion are inconsiderable in size. For the most part, 

 indeed, they are mere Sk'dr, or naked rocks, rising little above the surface of 

 the water, and frequently so diminutive as to look like the backs of so many 

 whales, or other monsters of the deep. Islets and Skar together, they are as 

 the sands of the sea in number. In former times, several of the most consi- 

 derable were well wooded ; and some few Oroust, the largest of the islands, 

 and the residence of M. von "Wright, for instance are partially so at this day ; 

 but in general they are destitute of trees. It is but few of them, in truth, that 

 can boast of even some stunted bushes, which are to be seen creeping forth 

 from amongst the crevices in the rocks. Several of the islands are peopled, 

 and in patches cultivated ; but for the most part they are only tenanted by the 

 feathered tribe, and have a most sterile and desolate appearance. In places 

 large tunnels have been formed by the waves in the dark fronts of the rocks, 

 through which the sea, during storms, rushes to and fro with a monotonous 

 and sullen sound, harmonizing well with the shrill cry of the wild sea-mew 

 the sole requiem to the unburied bones of the shipwrecked mariner scattered 

 along the coast, and a melancholy foreboding to the poor fisherman of some 

 new disaster. A faithful representation of our Skargard is given in a future 

 chapter of this volume. 



