THE RING-OUZEL. 
151 
of Clare. Its presence is generally announced to us by its chatter 
at some distance excited by our approach; but, restless as a black- 
bird, the ring-ouzel flits from rock to rock, often leaving the eye 
wandering long ere it can fix upon the sought-for object. It 
breeds about the mountains of Dublin and Wicklow,* and 
is stated to appear there in flocks in spring and autumn ;+ at 
the latter season, to eat the berries of the mountain ash {Pyrus 
aucuparia ) . It is said to frequent the hills about Portumna, on 
the western border of Galway; and Mr. M'Calla, states that 
a few breed in the least frequented parts of the mountains of 
Connemara, where he has often searched in vain for their nests, 
though satisfied that they were near : — on leaving their supposed 
vicinity the old birds followed him to a considerable distance, 
uttering their mournful notes. They are plentiful in the autumn 
evidently from migration, although never seen in flocks in 
spring, and are called round-berry birds in that district, from 
the circumstance of their feeding on the berries of the rowan or 
mountain ash. Ping-ouzels frequent the mountain tops — Sliev- 
na-mon, &c ., — about Clonmel (Tipperary), where the country 
people call them cow-boys } % and a few have been met with in sum- 
mer among the Comeragh mountains, county of Waterford. § 
This species is mentioned in the Pauna of Cork as a summer 
visitant to the mountainous districts; and is common at that 
season in the most rocky parts of the mountains of Kerry, within 
a few miles of the sea-coast, in the same haunts with choughs 
and eagles. || 
More than a family of these birds together have not come under 
my own observation in the north-east of this island, but they have 
been reported to me as once seen in considerable numbers in 
autumn on Sleive Donard, and the bleak mountain above Sea-Porde 
* Mr. R. Ball. 
f In White’s “ Natural History of Selborne,” this species is mentioned as merely 
visiting that locality in spring and autumn, when on its way to the north and south. 
According to his observation during three springs and two autumns, it is most punc- 
tual in its appearance. It has been noticed as visiting Devonshire and Cornwall in 
a similar manner. 
X Mr. Davis. § Mr. Poole. || Mr. T. F. Neligan. 
