BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 7 
Pied varieties are reported from many parts of the 
county, particularly from the lower portion of Eskdale, 
and Mr. J. Harkness writes me of a curious reddish-brown 
variety he once had to stuff. Pure white specimens are more 
rare, but I know of one true albino with pink eyes captured 
at Kirkconnel. Mrs. Pollock writes me that about 1866 
a white Blackbird was occasionally seen on the lawn at 
Dais win ton. " Its appearance was invariably followed 
by family disasters, so that when it was seen we knew it 
heralded bad news." 
THE RING-OUZEL. Turdus torquatus, Linnaeus. 
Local names — Mountain-Blackbird ; Mountain-Blackie. 
A common summer-visitant to the upland districts of the county. 
Dumfriesshire may certainly be considered as one of the 
headquarters in Great Britain of the Ring- Ouzel. Abundant 
as it is in the mountainous parts of Lakeland, and the 
neighbouring counties, it can scarcely be more numerous 
than it is with us in spring, when every crag and ravine 
at a suitable elevation may be confidently expected to be 
tenanted by a pair of breeding-birds. In the low-lying 
districts and littoral parishes of the county it is a com- 
paratively rare bird, being only seen there on migration. 
Rarely at the end of March, more generally towards the 
middle of April, the Ring-Ouzel arrives at its nesting- 
grounds ; the earliest date of its arrival that I know of being 
at Sanquhar on March 25th, 1907.* Early in September 
when the rowan-berries have been finished, these birds 
may be found at lesser altitudes, frequenting the hedge- 
rows at the sides of the roads, or even coming into gardens 
in search of food. The general emigration to the countries 
of the Mediterranean takes place in October, though 
nearly every season laggards are reported as here in 
* Trans. D. and O. Nat. Hist. Soc, April 18th, 1907. 
