TURDIDJE. 7 



During the winters of 1879-80 and 1880-81 many pied specimens 

 were killed near Exeter. In some the heads were entirely white. Two 

 pied specimens were shot at Plymouth in November 1881 (J. G., Zool. 

 1882, p. 66). We saw several living specimens with white heads in the 

 grounds of St. Leonard's Rectory, Exeter, in August 1884, and some 

 similar birds were killed at Exmouth in the winter of 1890-91. Dr. 

 Edward Moore mentions two cream-coloured Blackbirds, one of which was 

 shot at Warleigh (Trans. Plym. Inst. 1830, p. 300) ; and one was ob- 

 tained at Plymouth on Eebruary 17th, 1870 (J. G., MS. Notes). Eellamy 

 mentions that white specimens have occurred (N. Hist. S. D. p. 202). 

 Mr. 11. P. Xicholls received a very young albino specimen from Frogmore 

 near Kingsbridge. 



Blackbirds begin to build usuaUj'- early in March, but some nested in 

 1878 at the end of February, near Exeter. 



Bing-Ouzel. Turdus toj^quatus, Linn. 



[Ptock-Ouzel, Tor-Ouzel, Moor-Blackbird : Dev.'] 



A summer migrant, frequenting many of the rocky Tors of Dartmoor, 

 e. g. Yes Tor, Vixen Tor, Greater and Lesser Lynx Tor, especially when 

 the whortle-berries are ripe in July and August. Also Trowlesworthy 

 Rabbit Warreu, Shaughmoor, and Pyles on Harford Moor (R. A. J., 

 ' Naturalist,' 1851, p. 8(3). It is, however, found on every portion of the 

 moor, and is almost the only denizen of its dismal central swamps. It is 

 very sensitive to cold winds, and is always found on the lee-side of a Tor. 

 It arrives in South Devon at the end of March or the beginning of April. 

 Towards the end of September the various broods on Dartmoor collect 

 into little parties, and remain for a few days on its verges to feed on the 

 hawthorn and other berries before taking their departure. Flocks appear 

 in October for about a fortnight near Perry Head, the Bolt Headland, 

 and the Start Point, and are seen no more that year (Rev. Robert Holds- 

 worth, Yarrcll's B. Birds, 2nd cd. p. 222). The Ring-Ouzel has been seen 

 in the winter months on the South Coast (Zool. 1872, p. 2921, 1883, p. 29(5). 

 According to the late Dr. W. R. Scott (Trans. Brit. Assoc. 1864) it breeds 

 in June and July, but Mr. J. Gatcombe found two nests in Tavy Cleave, 

 Dartmoor, on May Kjth, 1808, with four eggs each, one set containing 

 fully-formed young birds, and a nest on Dartmoor with three eggs on 

 April 24th, 1^71 ; and one with four eggs May (Jth, 1872, in a tuft of 

 heath near the side of the Avon (Zool. 1871, p. 2039, 1872, p. 3009). 

 A nest and four eggs from ^fiddle Common, West Anstey, near Dul- 

 verton, taken in May I'^OO, is in the A. M. M. On Dartmoor " the nest 

 is frecpientlv found in the side of a turf-tyo, tliat is, a pit from which 

 they dig turf for fuel" (T. J. Bray's ' Tamar and Tavy,' 1st ed. i. p. 348). 



In North Devon the Ring-(Jiizcl arrives from tlie snuth at the beginning 

 of April, and may then be met with in woods and coppices on its way to its 

 moorland home. When it readies its summer-quarters it selects the deep, 

 heather- clad " cleaves " about the moors, and each of these will be found 



