upper parts of the body, dusky black, with the edges of the 
feathers pale brown ; legs dusky brown. 
The Ring Oukel is dispersed over most parts of the 
North of Europe; with us it is a migratory species, but 
whether it entirely quits this country is doubtful, as it has 
been met with at various periods of the year. On the 
third of January, 1811, we saw three in a small orchard, near 
Hiohfield, Sussex ; on the nineteenth of March, in the fol- 
lowing year, we saw a single bird feeding on some haw- 
berriesj on the road side, near Diss, jn Norfolk; and in the 
month of June, 1814, we had a pair sent that were shot in a 
shrubbery, at Theobald's, Herts. In the autumn of the 
same year, four or five young birds were observed in the 
same shrubbery, most probably the brood of the last-named 
pair, as the female had evidently but recently incubated. 
The young were all of a dusky colour, and most probably 
the white collar does not appear till after the first moult. 
The author of the interesting History of Selborne, con- 
sidered this species as a late breeder, from his having killed 
a female on the thirteenth of April, which had only but very 
small rudiments of eggs within her. Should the young 
brood before-named have belonged to the pair we supposed 
them to do, they must be early rather than late breeders, 
the young being able in the month of June to provide for 
themselves. 
In the winter these birds are seen in small flocks, when 
they feed on yew, hep and haw berries ; but in the spring, 
rarely more than two are found in the same spot, at this 
time they feed on snails, slugs, and worms: their note is 
pleasant though not loud ; and their call or cry is a weak 
squeak. They build on the ground, or on the side of a low 
bush or tree ; and the nest corresponds with that of the 
Blackbird; as do also the eggs, in colour, size, and number. 
Provincial names; Rock, or Mountain Ouzel, TorOuzel^ 
Michaelmas Blackbird, Heath Thrush. 
