212 KING OUZEL. 



In Scotland, the Rev, G. Gordon records that it is a regular 

 summer visitor in Morayshire, but is only seen sparingly dis- 

 persed over the range of hills immediately ahove the cultivated 

 districts, where it remains and breeds. So it also does in 

 Selkirkshire, Sutherlandshire, Argyleshire, and Edinburghshire; 

 in the latter on the Larnmermuir and the Pentland Hills. In 

 Banffshire, Mr. Thomas Edwards records them as occurring on 

 the hills of Tillieminet, Kirkney, Noth, and Clashnadarrow. 



It is also plentiful on the mountains in Wales, and its 

 loud song suddenly breaking out here and there on the 

 untrodden wild, is a gladsome sound to the wanderer, whom 

 it cheers as he journeys on his lonely way. 



In Orkney it is an occasional winter visitant; small flocks 

 were observed at Elsness in April, 1822, and again on the 

 12th. of April, 1829. Three were shot in Sanclay, October 

 14th., 1835: they were numerous in that island during 

 October, 1836. It has been also seen in Orphir, and on one 

 occasion has been known to breed in the Hebrides, and also 

 in the Isle of Skye. 



In Ireland, the late William Thompson, Esq., of Belfast, 

 records it as frequenting suitable localities throughout the 

 island; the mountains of the counties of Dublin and Wicklow, 

 and the high rocky hills of Clare, the Glens, Glenariff, and 

 about Cushendall, in Antrim; Rosheen Mountain and Lough 

 Salt, in Donegal; Slieve Donard, the loftiest of the mountains 

 of Mourne, in Down, and the mountains to its north-west, 

 and those above Tollymore Park, the seat of Lord Roden; 

 Achill Head one of the most westerly points of Mayo; the 

 heights of the Carlingford Mountain, in Louth; the hills 

 about Portumna, on the western border of Gal way; Slieve- 

 na-mon, and about Clonmel, in the county of Tipperary; 

 the Comeragh Mountains in Waterford, the least frequented 

 parts of the mountains of Connemara, the mountainous 

 districts of the county of Cork, the Mounterlowney Mountains, 

 in the county of Tyrone, and the most rocky parts of those 

 of Kerry. 



The Ring Ouzel arrives in this country in the end of 

 March or beginning of April, and departs in October. 



It is capable of being kept in confinement, and will live 

 from six to ten years: it is found in its wild state perching 

 on stones, from whence it utters its brief song. Like many 

 other birds that build on the ground, it is very clamorous 

 if any one approaches the nest, and endeavours to decoy the 



