FAMILIAR 



WILD^BIBDS. 



THE EING OUZEL. 



Mcnda torqiiata. 



HE RING OUZEL, or, as it 

 is variously called, Rock Ouzel, 

 Mountain Ouzel, White- 

 breasted Blackbird, Ringed 

 Thrush, and Moor Blackbird, 

 is a frequenter of the wild, 

 mountainous, and waste por- 

 tions of Great Britain. It 

 does not appear to care at all 

 for cultivated or inhabited 

 districts; and although by 

 no means a scarce bird, its 

 habits of life are so shy and 

 retiring that few persons 

 excepting the naturalist know 

 very much about it. 



The Ring Ouzel is a migra- 

 tory bird, arriving in this 

 country about the end of 

 March or the beginning of 

 April, and remaining with us 

 until the end of October. It 

 is found during its stay princi- 

 pally in the northern and 



61 



