MERULA TORQUATA (Linn). 
RING-OUZEL. 
Le Merle à collier, Briss. Orn. ii. p. 285 (1760); D'Aubent. Pl. Enl. pl. 516. 
Turdus torquatus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 296 (1766); Stejn. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. ix. p. 365 
(1886). 
Le Merle à plastron blanc, Montb. Hist. Nat. Ois. iii. p. 340 (1775). 
Ring Ouzel, Lath. Gen. Syn. ii. pt. 1, p. 46 (1783). 
Merula torquata, Boie, Isis, 1822, p. 552; Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. v. p. 246 (1881). 
Sylvia torquata, Savi, Orn. Tosc. i. p. 206 (1827). 
Copsychus torquatus, Kaup, Nat. Syst. p. 157 (1829). 
Merula montana, Brehm, Vóg. Deutschl. p. 875 (1831). 
Merula collaris, Brehm, Vóg. Deutschl. p. 376 (1831). 
Thoracocincla torquata, Reichenb. Nat. Syst. pl. liii. fig. 12 (1850); Ridgw. Proc. U.S. Nat. 
Mus. iv. p. 322 (1882). 
М. torque prepectorali albo: subtus nigricans, plumis singulis albido marginatis, sed minimé medialiter albo 
striatis : rostro nigricante, vel brunneo, haud flavicante. 
THE Ring-Ouzel nests in Northern Europe, but is replaced in the Caucasus by M. orientalis and in 
Central Europe by Merula alpestris. On migration М. torquata visits Southern Europe, as does 
also M. alpestris, and they are then found in the same localities, but their breeding-ranges are 
quite distinct. 
In Great Britain the Ring-Ouzel nests in the high moorlands, and breeds regularly in 
Dorsetshire and the western counties, while another favourite haunt is the Peak in Derbyshire. 
It is said to have “ nested in Hampshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Warwickshire, and similar counties, but 
as a rule its breeding-places are in the wild and hilly districts of Cornwall, Devon, Somersetshire, 
the Pennine backbone of England and its spurs; in Wales; and in the greater part of Scotland, 
including the Orkneys, and most of the islands which present suitable features; to the Shetlands it 
is comparatively a rare visitor" (Howard Saunders, Man. 2nd ed. p. 15). In Ireland it nests in 
suitable localities. 
In the south of England it is a regular migrant, and was noticed in Hampshire by Gilbert White 
a hundred years ago. І have myself seen it frequenting the gardens near Brighton on its way south 
in the autumn, and this portion of the Sussex coast seems to be a favourite resting-place for the 
species on its southern journey. . 
The Ring-Ouzel breeds on the mountains of Scandinavia up to the North Cape; and 
Professor Collett contributes the following note to Mr. Dresser's ‘Birds of Europe':—* During 
the season of migration, 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. It is found on Ше 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 
E2 
