284 INSECTIVOR^E. 



and northward to the hills on the border, to the south of 

 Scotland, and at least to the southern slopes of the 

 Grampians. 



Cold moors, stony places, but still where a good deal of 

 rain falls, and there are springs and pools if not lakes, are the 

 nesting-grounds of the ring-thrushes. Their food has not 

 been so well ascertained as that of the more lowland species ; 

 so that we are less able to say what takes them to their 

 peculiar localities ; but whatever that food may be, they 

 nestle far apart; and unless by quartering the ground on 

 purpose, it is not common to see above one pair in crossing 

 the place where they reside. It must, however, be borne in 

 mind, that their habits are very shy and retiring. 



When alarmed, by your coming suddenly upon them at 

 the turning of a rock (it is not very easy to get near them 

 on the open moor), they utter the same alarm-note as the 

 blackbird ; not quite so loud, however, though that may be 

 from the want of trees, which magnify sounds. [The snap- 

 ping asunder of a stick, which you would not hear at the 

 distance of twenty yards on the open heathy hill, will make a 

 report like a pistol in a wood, especially one of pines, which 

 is the most sonorous of all forests.] The song, which it does 

 not appear is uttered while the bird is on the coast, is given, 

 though not very copiously, in the wilds. But though a short 

 song (a miniature of that of the missel-thrush), it is a sweet 

 Bong in those wild places where there are screams and 

 whistles, but not many songs. It is given as the bird sits 

 on some point of the low rock or an elevated stone. 



The nest varies a little with the place. A tuft or bush, 

 especially if against a bank, gets the preference, but a tuft of 

 grass or heath, or a projecting part of a mossy stone, will do, 

 where better is not to be had. The nest is formed of moss 

 and lichen, plastered with mud, and lined with soft dry grass. 

 The eggs are four, rarely six, about the size of those of the 



