6 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



disappeared, and quietly stalking up to it, and then quickly 

 searching the heather, and seizing the bird. For instance, I have 

 a note, " Caught four young Ring-Ouzels " on June 22nd, 1887. 

 Years ago I kept many for weeks in my aviary, but unfortunately 

 I have no notes respecting them. As to the old birds, I must 

 repeat that, according to my experience, they always fly to some 

 point of vantage, just as a Missel-Thrush flies to a tree. Some- 

 times in rough country they are out of sight for a few minutes 

 behind a hillock, and before or after the nesting season they 

 often fly off to a distance ; but I have never known one skulk. 

 I have, moreover, questioned Mr. Peat very particularly on this 

 point, and his experience is exactly similar to mine. 



When they have eggs or nestlings they are often very bold. I 

 have known them dash past my face, nearly touching it. I have 

 also witnessed a pair driving a Kestrel from their neighbourhood. 

 I have, however, never known them " reel and tumble on the 

 ground to decoy you away," as Seebohm states (' British Birds,' 

 vol. i. p. 248). This can hardly be a common habit. Many 

 brooding birds fly low and feebly when first leaving the nest, as 

 if stiff with long sitting ; but I have never noticed even this in 

 the Ring-Ouzel. 



Song, — Perhaps its song is inspiring rather on account of 

 what it suggests than because of its intrinsic beauty. It is not 

 very varied, but its few rich notes ring out on the silent moor, or 

 echo from rock to rock in the deserted dales. It is perfectly 

 easy to distinguish it from the song of any other bird. And this 

 is true also of its call. How the loud " tac tac tac " of the Ring- 

 Ouzel can be mistaken by a naturalist for the metallic cry of the 

 Blackbird, I cannot conceive. I once (April llth, 1895) heard a 

 Ring- Ouzel make a low sound like the scolding of a Whitethroat; 

 but this is unusual. Also on one occasion only have I known it 

 sing when flying. 



Date of Nesting, — On April 29th, 1895, I found a Ring- 

 Ouzel's nest containing two eggs, but that was ten days or a fort- 

 night earlier than I usually see them. June 28th (1888) is the 

 latest date on which I have found them. These were at an 

 advanced stage of incubation, and I have not known of young 

 birds in the nest at a later date. But I must confess that I do 

 not look much for eggs after June, so that it might be possible to 



