222 MERULID^E. 



powerful notes : its cry of alarm, when disturbed, very 

 closely resembles that of the Blackbird. 



The Ring Ouzel is not unfrequently seen in flocks of 

 twenty or thirty about the end of October along the line of 

 our southern coast, when preparing for their departure. To 

 the Rev. Robert Holdsworth, of Brixham, I am indebted 

 for a series of letters containing notes on the Natural His- 

 tory of Birds and Fishes in Devonshire. From this gentle- 

 man I learn that flocks of Ring Ouzels appear in October, 

 for about a fortnight, near Berry-head, the Bolt-headland, 

 and the Start Point, and are then seen no more that year. 

 Farther to the eastward, at the Island of Portland, where 

 these birds assemble, they are called Michaelmas Black- 

 birds ; and the Isle of Purbeck is another starting-place. 

 White of Selborne saw them frequently when on their 

 route in Hampshire and Sussex. These flights probably 

 go to France and Spain, and from thence to North Africa, 

 where they pass the winter. 



A specimen is occasionally obtained near London. A 

 female bird, in my own collection, given me by my friend 

 Mr. Arthur Vardon, was caught in a trap in his garden at 

 South Lambeth ; and a young male bird of the year was 

 shot out of a small flock on Wimbledon Common in Oc- 

 tober last by Mr. Larkham of Roehampton. 



From our eastern coast these birds probably cross the 

 Channel to Germany. They are rare in Holland, but com- 

 mon in France. They breed in the mountains of Switzer- 

 land, and are seen on the higher mountains of Arragon. 

 They are sometimes abundant in winter at Genoa and in 

 Italy ; but a great portion pass over to Africa, Egypt, and 

 Syria . 



The adult male has the point of the beak almost black, 

 with more or less of yellow at the base ; the irides dark 



