ROSE OUZEL. 
437 
a flesh-colour, blackish at the base ; iricles pale brown ; head adorned 
with a long- pendant crest of loose silky feathers falling- backwards, 
which, as well as the neck and upper part of the breast, is of a velvet 
black, with violet and green reflections ; the whole of the belly and 
back of a delicate peach-blossom red; wings and tail brownish black, 
with violet reflections ; under tail coverts and thighs black ; legs flesh 
red, very strong and muscular. 
The female is similar to the male bird in markings, but the crest is 
shorter, and the red less pure in its tint. 
The young of the year have the bill of a blackish brown-colour ; no 
crest ; head and all the upper parts of the body hair-brown, tinged with 
grey ; wing coverts edged with greyish white ; throat and centre of 
the belly white ; legs and feet wood-brown. It can only be considered 
as an occasional visitant to this country. 
* Selby says the one figured by him was shot out of a small flock of 
these birds and young starlings intermixed, upon the sea-coast near 
Bamburgh Castle, in the month of July, 1818. Another male bird 
was taken, about the same time, in a tan-pit near Newcastle-upon- 
Tyne ; and other specimens are mentioned as having been obtained in 
the neighbourhood of Ormskirk, in Lancashire. It is a native of the 
warmer parts of Asia and Africa, where it is very common, living and 
feeding with the starling species. It is also a regular periodical visitant 
in Italy, Spain, and the southern provinces of France, In its mode of 
life, it is of great benefit in many countries, by preying on the larvce of 
particular insects ; in the search after which it displays great assiduity, 
and is, on that account, highly esteemed and protected by the inhabi- 
tants. Its nest is made in the holes of trees, and in old walls, but the 
number and colour of its eggs are not mentioned. The young, in their 
nestling plumage, are very unlike the parent birds, and greatly resemble 
the young of the starhng. 
The French translator of Bechstein’s Manuel des Oiseaux has added 
in that work some interesting remarks respecting this species. ‘‘ A 
sportsman,” says he, “ discovered, near Meiningen, a covey of eight of 
these birds proceeding slowly towards the north, one of which he suc- 
ceeded in securing. In a short time it became so tame as to take in- 
sects from the hand, when presented to it. Its song at first consisted 
only of a few harsh and inharmonious notes, but by degrees the tones 
became clearer and more sustained. An amateur in song birds, who 
heard it for the first time, thought he listened to a concert, consisting 
of the starling, goldfinch, and aberdevine, and when he saw it was 
alone, could hardly believe that this music proceeded from one bird,”* 
