28 BRITISH BIRDS’ EGGS. 
RING OUZEL. 
TuRDUS ToRQquATus, Linn. 
Pl. VIII, figs. 1-3. 
Geogr. distr.—Asia and Africa; rare in Persia and Algeria; arrives 
in the British Isles in April, bemg most abundant in the more wild 
and mountainous districts; it has, however, been met with in Kent, 
Suffolk, Norfolk, Warwick, Leicester, and in the Isle of Wight. 
Food.—Insects, Mollusca, fruits, berries. 
Nest.—Much like that of the Blackbird, but somewhat looser in 
construction ; formed externally of dry grass and bents compacted 
with a little earth, leaves, and moss; twigs of heather or larch are 
not unfrequently interwoven; the lining is formed of fine dry stalks of 
moor grass, and sometimes a little clay. 
Position of nest.—Generally upon the ground, under a low bush, or 
in ling growing on the brink of an embankment or slope. 
Number of eggs.—4-6; usually 4. 
Time of nidification.—_IV-VII; May. 
The song of the Ring Ouzel is louder and harsher than 
that of the Blackbird. Though commoner in the northern 
than southern counties, I have taken it in Kent, both under 
a furze bush and from the edge of a heathery moor under 
overhanging ling at the top of a steep bank bounding a 
little frequented road; there is no mistaking the bird on 
account of the conspicuous crescentic white patch on its 
breast ; this marking is, however, much less distinct or 
wanting in young birds. When disturbed from the nest 
the Ring Ouzel is as noisy as the Blackbird, and when the 
young are hatched it is equally bold in defending them ; 
its eggs are like some varieties of those of the latter species, 
especially those which approach the Missel Thrush, and, 
oceasionally, are hardly distinguishable from eggs of T. 
viscivorus. It breeds regularly in rocky parts of Cornwall, 
Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire, Wales, 
Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and 
thence northward to Caithness; in Ireland it is generally 
distributed in suitable localities during the summer months. 
