On Moorlands and Roughs. 55 



Whilst in flocks the birds are wary and wild 

 enough, but when breeding they become bold and 

 venturesome to an astonishing degree in these 

 respects exactly resembling their ally, the Missel- 

 thrush. We remark this Ouzel's habit of elevating 

 the tail after alighting, just as the Blackbird does; 

 we also cannot fail to notice its exceeding noisiness 

 just prior to seeking a roosting-place; neither shall 

 we fail to observe its very Blackbird-like way of 

 feeding, ever alert and watchful. Soon after their 

 arrival, but never, so far as we have observed, be- 

 fore the flocks or travelling parties have disbanded, 

 the cock birds regain their vernal music characteristic 

 of the love season. With the resumption of song 

 the bird loses a good deal of its wariness, a fact we 

 may notice in not a few other species. He will sit 

 and warble on the big boulders of granite or mill- 

 stone grit, or when perched on the top of a rough 

 wall or some bending spray of ling or gorse, just 

 as sweetly as when sitting in the higher branches of 

 some birch or mountain-ash. His music is not of 

 that rich excellence that marks the song of the 

 Blackbird, nor has it the variety so characteristic of 

 the Thrush; yet there is a wild beauty in harmony 

 with the surrounding scene that makes ample recom- 

 pense for its failings in other ways. Unfortunately 

 the bird continually spoils his music by introducing 

 a series of inharmonious harsh notes. Like that of 



