THE RING THE CARNATION -OUZEL. 259 



This bird has given rise to an expression, found occasionally 

 in our old writers, and also at the present time in the West : 

 " The harm is done, and farwelfeldefare." 



Chaucer, Troilus and Cressida, Book ii. 

 That is, the season is over ; the occasion is past ; the bird is flown. 

 "Ye strangers, banished from your native glades, 

 Where tyrant frost with famine leagu'd proclaims 

 ' Who lingers diesj' with many a risk ye win 

 The privilege to breathe our softer air 

 And glean our sylvan berries." 



Giseorne's Walks in a Forest — Autumn. 

 The Torquatus, Ring-Ouzel, Amsel, Rock or Mountain Ouzel, 

 Michaelmas- Blackbird, or Tor-Ouzel, is eleven inches long ; the ge- 

 neral plumage black, beneath greyish ; collar white. One or 

 two other varieties. Rather a scarce bird in this country. It 

 is also found in many parts of Europe, A?ia, and Africa. The 

 Ring-ouzel is a migratory bird ; said to breed in Scotland,Wales, 

 and some parts of the West of England. Nest generally on the 

 ground under some bush, which, and the eggs, are similar to the 

 blackbird's. 



rt Joyously 

 From stone to stone, the Ouzel flits along, 

 Startling the linnet from the hawthorn bough; 

 While on the elm-tree, overshadowing deep 

 The low-roofed cottage white, the Blackbird sits 

 Cheerily hymning the awakened year." 



The above lines are from Blackwood's Magazine, for March, 

 1822, with the signature of £\. I take the present opportunity 

 of expressing the pleasure which I have often felt on the pe- 

 rusal of the many truly poetical productions of this amiable yet 

 anonymous writer which have, from time, to time appeared in 

 that magazine. 



The Roseus, Rose-coloured Thrush, Ouzel, or Carnation- 

 Ouzel, is themost beautiful of the species, and occasionally seen 

 in this country ; it is rather less than the blackbird, being in 

 length hardly eight inches. The head, which is crested, neck, 



