THE RING OUZEL. 35 



its youn^^ The ring ouzel, liowcvcr, is not 

 witli us a common bird, though more frequent 

 in our northern and western counties tliau else- 

 where. It is well known in some parts ot 

 Devonshire, is a hird of the Peak of Derbyshire, 

 and in Scotland resorts to the (Jrampian Tlills. 

 We could wish that it were more generally distri- 

 buted, for its song is said to be very sweet. The 

 bird, which is often seen in Nonvay, Mr. llewnt- 

 son describes as frequenting many of the wooded 

 rocks of that country, and enlivening the most 

 bleak and desolate islands with its sweet song, 

 lie says that it shares with the redwing the name 

 of nightingale, and often delighted him in Jiis 

 midnight rambles. In France it is called tiic 

 mountain blackbird, and it is in some of our coun- 

 ties known as the white-breasted blackbird. It 

 has been thus by a poet contrasted with the black- 

 bird, which it is much like in form and habits, 

 only that it never chooses for its haunt the in- 

 closed and inhabited districts. 



"From stone to stone the ouzel flits along, 

 Startling the linnet from the hawthorn bough : 

 While on the elm-tree, overshadowing deep 

 The low-roof d cottage white, the blackbird sits 

 Cheerily hymning the awaken'd year." 



