536 CLASS AVES. 



seen in the plain. Lothinger adds, that, though formerly very 

 common, they are now rare in the Vosges. 



Montbeillard refers to the ring-ouzel, the white blackbird of 

 which Aristotle and Belon speak. It is certain that this race, 

 which is never found except on the very high mountains of 

 Arcadia, Savoy, Auvergne, Silesia, on the Alps and Apen- 

 nines, appertains to the species under consideration, both by 

 this peculiar instinct, and by a general mode of life which 

 removes it from the common blackbirds: but still we have 

 seen that, among the latter, accidental varieties occur totally 

 white, and in both species individuals are seen more or less 

 varied with this colour. 



The rock-thrushes (as their name indicates) are inhabitants 

 of the rocks and mountains, and must be sought for in the 

 wildest and most solitary retreats : continually on their guard, 

 they do not hesitate to stand in exposed places. They are 

 frequently seen at some distance from their haunts, perched on 

 large stones ; but they are very difficult to approach, and very 

 rarely stop within range of gun-shot. When they are ad- 

 vanced upon a little too much, they are off to another stone, 

 and always choose one where they can have a full, commanding 

 view of all that surrounds them. 



These birds are not a bad eatable, but they are still more in 

 estimation for their voice, which is sweet and varied, ap- 

 proaching the tones of the black-headed warbler. Their throat 

 is so flexible, that they quickly appropriate the song of other 

 birds, and the airs of music. A little before sunrise, and at 

 sunset, they utter the loudest sounds. During the day their 

 song amounts to little more than chirping ; but in the middle 

 of the night, if their cage be approached with a light, they 

 begin to sing directly. 



The extreme distrustfulness of these birds naturally leads 

 them to choose the most inaccessible places for the security of 

 their young family. They make their nests in the holes of 

 rocks and attach them also to the roofs of caverns. It is not 



