20 BLACK-AND-WHITE BIRDS. 



more coarsely blotched with reddish-brown ; I'l x "85 

 inch (plate 122). 



Nest. — Like that of the Blackbird, of rootlets, 

 coarse grass, plastered with mud, and lined with finer 

 grass ; placed in heather and ling, and on ledges in 

 rocks and banks, also in low bushes. 



Distribution. — In rugged hill-country throughout 

 the British Isles. 



The Eing-Ouzel, or ' Mountain-Blackbird,' well earns 

 the latter denomination, in its size, shape, generally 

 black plumage, long tail and yellow bill, flight, 

 hopping gait, and gestures so closely resembling the 

 Blackbird as easily to be confounded with it but for 

 one obvious distinguishing mark — the broad white 

 band at the throat. When viewed more nearly the 

 sooty-black plumage is seen to be relieved by gray 

 margins to the feathers. It is a bird of the hill- 

 country, and rarely found nesting elsewhere, though 

 it may be encountered in the lowlands when making 

 its way to and from its nesting haunts at the spring 

 and autumn migrations. Like the Blackbird, the 

 Ring-Ouzel has the habit of throwing up and fanning 

 its long tail when in the act of alighting. Its song, 

 too, has in it something of the Blackbird's, but is 

 more rugged and given with robuster energy. The 

 nest may be placed among heather, but more often 

 a niche in a rock, stone wall, bank of a stream, or 

 similar support is selected. The birds return in April 

 and depart in September, though some may linger in 

 the lowlands until near the end of the year. 



STAKLING — 8J inches ; gregarious ; a walking bird ; 

 feather-edgings hufif ; no throat-band. 



