io THE WHEATEAR (STONE-SMATCH, 



both sexes are occasionally met with. In a district of France not 

 far from Paris they are very numerous, and here the title to a certain 

 estate used to be kept up by the annual presentation of a white 

 Blackbird to the lord of the manor. Large flocks from the Continent 

 visit us in the autumn and winter. 



THE RING OUZEL 



TURDUS TORQUATUS 



Plumage black edged with greyish white ; a large crescent-shaped pure white 

 spot on the throat ; bill and legs dusky. Female with the gorget smaller 

 and tinged with red and grey, and the rest of the plumage greyer. Length 

 ten inches. Eggs greenish white, spotted with reddish brown and grey. 



Ring Ouzel is hardly an appropriate name for this bird ; for in 

 reality it does not wear a ring round its neck, but a white gorget 

 on its breast, the contrast between which and its black plumage 

 is very striking. It frequents the mountainous parts of Scotland 

 and hilly parts of Derbyshire, and other wild parts where moors 

 and hills are. Though never so abundant as the Blackbird and 

 Thrush are in the plains, it is far from uncommon. It is a migratory 

 bird, arriving in this country in April, and returning to its southern 

 winter quarters — Corsica and other islands of the Mediterranean 

 — early in autumn ; not so early, however, as to miss the vintage 

 season of the south of Europe. In summer it travels as far north 

 as Sweden and Norway, where, on the authority of Mr. Hewitson, it 

 is often seen ' enlivening the most bleak and desolate islands with its 

 sweet song. It shares with the Redwing the name of Nightingale, and 

 often delighted us in our midnight visits amongst the islands.' 

 Its habits and food while it remains with us are very similar to 

 those of the Blackbird, and its nest, generally built among stones 

 and bushes, near the ground, is constructed of the same materials 

 with the nest of that bird. Towards the end of their sojourn in 

 Britain, Ring Ouzels descend to the level countries, and are not un- 

 frequently met with in gardens, whither they repair for the sake of 

 feeding on fruit and berries. In form and movements the Ring Ouzel 

 is a more elegantly shaped bird than the Blackbird. 



THE WHEATEAR (STONE-SMATCH) } 



SAXfCOLA CENANTHE 



Upper parts, in autumn reddish browr, in spring bluish grey ; wings and wing- 

 coverts, centre and extremity of the tail, legs and feet, bill and area which 

 comprises the nostrils, eyes and ears, black ; base and lower portion of 

 the side of the tail pure white ; the chin, forehead, stripe over the eyes, 

 and under parts are also white, and in autumn the tail-feathers are also 

 tipped with white. Female — upper parts ash-brown, tinged with yellow ; 

 stripe over the eyes dingy ; all the colours less bright. Length six and a 

 half inches ; breadth twelve inches. Eggs pale bluish green. 



During a considerable portion of its stay with us, open downs 

 1 Stone-smatch in Yorkshire — from the Saxon, Steinschmatzer in German. 



