The Ring Ouzel. 



207 



ing of attention ; they are, however, scarce, and difficult to 

 obtain, otherwise they would be much more popular than at 

 present. It would well repay Scotch birdcatchers to devote 

 more attention to this bird, as its song might be greatly 

 improved were some hand-reared specimens tutored by a 

 Nightingale, Blackcap, or Woodlark. The Blackcap would 

 make the best schoolmaster, as the Ring Ouzel would learn 

 the song of that bird much more readily than it would that 

 of either of the others referred to. Ring Ouzels might also, 

 with advantage, be trained under a good Song Thrush or 

 Blackbird, for they whistle much more clearly and sweetly 

 than either of those birds. The defects observable in them 

 are a want of sustentation and variety, not of richness, or 

 cadence, or even compass ; these latter faculties are inherited 

 by nature, and only require to be more fully developed to 

 place their owners among the most valued of our British 

 song birds. 



Diseases and theie Teeatment. — See Chapters on ''Black- 

 bird " and "Thrushes." Ring Ouzels being congenerous with 

 the birds just named, are subject to the same ailments, and 

 require the same treatment. 



