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Our friend Mr. Robert Collett, of Christiania, writes to us as follows : — " The Ring-Ouzel is 

 here, in Norway, a true alpine species, which only in the high north and on the west coast breeds 

 near the sea-level. During the season of migration, on the other hand, it is more or less 

 numerous in the lowlands, but is certainly the least common of our Thrushes. I have observed 

 it in small flocks of about a dozen individuals, but more generally singly." He gives the following 

 information as to its distribution in that country : — " It is found on the fells only, during the 

 summer season, in all southern and eastern portions of the country down to Christiania Stift, and 

 breeds numerously in the birch regions ; but it seldom visits the subalpine regions, as at Ringerike, 

 in Krogkleven. Along the west coast and further to the northwards it breeds at all altitudes 

 above the level of the sea, and is found especially on the islands inside the polar circle. It 

 occurs in Ostfmmark ; but it is uncertain whether it breeds there or not. In the spring and 

 autumn it visits the lowlands and remains here and there (as, for instance, at Christiania) through 

 the winter. ... In the western part of the country it appears generally to build on the ground, 

 and in the eastern fells in low trees or bushes." Near Bodo, in Norway, Messrs. F. and P. 

 Godman found the Ring-Ouzel. They observe : — " Birds of this species were scattered over all 

 the mountains in the neighbourhood, and were there when we first arrived. We found one nest, 

 situated on the ground, and containing four eggs. This species was far more shy than either 

 Fieldfare or Redwing." Nilsson states that it inhabits the northern parts of Sweden, only 

 occurring in the south in the spring and autumn : it is not uncommon on the fells, in the 

 birch- and willow-regions, during the summer season, and is found in similar localities to those 

 frequented by the Rock-Ptarmigan. Wheelwright met with the bird at Quickjock, in Lapland, 

 but observes : — " The Ring-Ouzel was not a common bird here ; but a pair or two were distri- 

 buted here and there at the bottom of the fells. We took two nests — the one from a tree, the 

 other from the ground — as late as July 2nd." 



Sommerfelt records it as occasionally found at the Varanger fjord in summer. In Finland 

 it is the rarest of the Thrushes, only having been observed at Aavasaksa, above Tornea, and once 

 by J. von Wright at Haukivuori Kapell, in Pieksamaki parish, in June 1843. Liljeborg records 

 it as tolerably abundant at Schwietskaja. In Denmark, according to Kjserbolling, it occurs only 

 during migration in October, and again in March. Baron von Droste Hiilshoff says that it passes 

 through Borkum, during migration, in large flocks. 



Naumann remarks that it cannot be called a common species in Germany, especially as 

 far as regards the plains; for it is essentially an inhabitant of the mountains, not, however, 

 frequenting the high ranges, but restricting itself to the central portions and the mountain- 

 forests. During migration it appears to follow the mountain-ranges, as it is less seldom observed 

 in the woods in the flat country. None remain in Germany over the winter, and the autumnal 

 migration does not last more than a fortnight. They generally migrate during the night, usually 

 singly or in pairs, seldom in families, and endeavour to hide in the thickets during the daytime, 

 so that they are not often seen. Borggreve writes that " it is a common bird during the summer 

 in the low wood-growth on the Reisengebirge. Von Gloger first observed it ; and more recently 

 it has been noticed by Tobias, A. von Homeyer, and also, in the Tatra, by Schauer. Speerschneider 

 observed it in the Thiiringer Forest at the end of May. As a passing migrant, coming from the 

 north, it occurs almost regularly in the mountain-districts, but more sporadically and periodically 



