Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/28

4 greyish tint. Birds have been noticed with a few white feathers on the sides of the neck; and a cock in my collection has a dark spot in the centre of its white crescent.

I cannot agree with some authors as to the likeness of the Ring-Ouzel to the Blackbird. St. John ('Sport in Moray,' p. 103) writes:—"The Ring-Ouzel so much resembles the Blackbird in shape and figure that at a little distance they may be easily mistaken for each other." And Macgillivray ('British Birds,' vol. ii. p. 102) says that "its manners are very similar to those of the Blackbird." No doubt a casual observer might mistake one for the other, just as he might mistake a Fieldfare for a Song-Thrush. But the attention of the field naturalist is at once arrested by the larger size, less neat and sleek appearance (partly due to its duller colours), the bolder flight, and the very distinct cry of the Ring-Ouzel. The white crescent on the breast is also very noticeable in the mature cock, but would not help much towards the identification of the hen or young birds. In Prof. Newton's 'Dictionary of Birds' (p. 667) it is stated that this bird prefers "the shelter of rocks to that of trees." Again, Macgillivray states that, "like the Song-Thrush, it conceals itself among bushes, but is much more easily put to flight" ('British Birds,' vol. ii. p. 103). And Seebohm also ('British Birds,' vol. i. p. 246) gives the impression that it skulks, saying that it "either drops down into the heath, or flies away to a more secluded resting-place"; though in the earlier part of his account of this species he gives quite a contrary impression. I have seen Ring-Ouzels in Derbyshire, in Argyllshire, and in Dumfriesshire, but never have I known any tendency to skulk on the part of old birds. On the contrary, in this respect their habits much more nearly approach those of the Missel-Thrush. Indeed, if they have a nest, they remain in sight much more than the Missel-Thrush. This is partly due to the nature of their haunts, where the cover is generally low-growing. But under all circumstances, during their stay with us, they fly boldly up when alarmed, pitching on the top of a rock or wall, or sometimes a tree, from whence they can closely watch all the movements of intruders. Very rarely have I been able to approach near enough to see the sitting bird before it left the nest. I say it, because I have some reason to believe that at times the cock assists in the duties of