4 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



greyish tint. Birds have been noticed with a few white feathers 

 on the sides of the neck ; and a cock in my collection has a dark 

 spot in the centre of its white crescent. 



I cannot agree with some authors as to the likeness of the 

 Ring-Ouzel to the Blackbird. St. John (' Sport in Moray,' 

 p. 103) writes: — "The Ring-Ouzel so much resembles the 

 Blackbird in shape and figure that at a little distance they may 

 be easily mistaken for each other." And Macgillivray (' British 

 Birds,' vol. ii. p. 102) says that "its manners are very similar 

 to those of the Blackbird." No doubt a casual observer might 

 mistake one for the other, just as he might mistake a Fieldfare 

 for a Song- Thrush. But the attention of the field naturalist is 

 at once arrested by the larger size, less neat and sleek appearance 

 (partly due to its duller colours), the bolder flight, and the very 

 distinct cry of the Ring- Ouzel. The white crescent on the 

 breast is also very noticeable in the mature cock, but would not 

 help much towards the identification of the hen or young birds. 

 In Prof. Newton's 'Dictionary of Birds ' (p. 667) it is stated that 

 this bird prefers " the shelter of rocks to that of trees." Again, 

 Macgillivray states that, "like the Song-Thrush, it conceals 

 itself among bushes, but is much more easily put to flight " 

 (' British Birds,' vol. ii. p. 103). And Seebohm also ('British 

 Birds,' vol. i. p. 246) gives the impression that it skulks, saying 

 that it " either drops down into the heath, or flies away to a more 

 secluded resting-place "; though in the earlier part of his account 

 of this species he gives quite a contrary impression. I have seen 

 Ring-Ouzels in Derbyshire, in Argyllshire, and in Dumfriesshire, 

 but never have I known any tendency to skulk on the part of old 

 birds. On the contrary, in this respect their habits much more 

 nearly approach those of the Missel-Thrush. Indeed, if they 

 have a nest, they remain in sight much more than the Missel- 

 Thrush. This is partly due to the nature of their haunts, where 

 the cover is generally low-growing. But under all circumstances, 

 during their stay with us, they fly boldly up when alarmed, 

 pitching on the top of a rock or wall, or sometimes a tree, from 

 whence they can closely watch all the movements of intruders. 

 Very rarely have I been able to approach near enough to see the 

 sitting bird before it left the nest. I say it, because I have some 

 reason to believe that at times the cock assists in the duties of 



