Ring Ouzels c^ Water Ouzels 113 



his solitary nest in some conspicuous position in a tree 

 top, before even the young leaves have budded. 



There he sits croaking ominously, a raven in 

 miniature — black, wicked, and marauding. But he has 

 held his ow^n more successfully than the raven, who in 

 England is now an uncommon bird. 



In the rocky heights of Dovedale the ring ouzels 

 build, and unless you see the birds as evident possessors 

 of their nest, the latter is very easily mistaken for a 

 blackbird's, both in the matter of the materials and 

 style of architecture, as well as the eggs. 



In the distance, up a rocky cutting above us, as we 

 keep to the winding path, we hear the fluting of the 

 ouzel, somewhat resembling in voice his cousin, the 

 blackbird, but less melodious, yet attuning delightfully 

 with the wildness of the scenery, accompanied by the 

 swishing of running water below us. 



Leaving this fairy glen, we can clamber up to the 

 downland above, where stone walls divide the sheep 

 runs and pastures. 



If you look carefully along the walls, in the 

 hollows amongst the stones you may find a ring 

 ouzel's nest, and perhaps a wheatear's, to get at which 

 you would probably have to pull out many stones. 

 But happily the mere passing boy — a thing of mischief 

 and destruction — does not venture to do so, and the 

 pretty white-backed wheatears rear their brood in 

 safety. 



A very clever bird is the wheatear at concealing 

 his nesting-place. 



Like the black redstart in the Swiss mountains, 



H 



