THE AMERICAN WATER OUZEL. 



327 







sioned sharp passages at arms ser\'ed to conhrni the conchision that the terri- 

 tory had been diAided, and that each bird was expected to dive and bob and 

 gurgle on his own beat. Tims, twenty-seven lairds were found to occupy a 

 stretch of two miles. 



Here in winter quarters, the first courting songs were heard. As early as 

 Christmas the birds 



began to tune up. and 

 that cjuite irrespective 

 of weather. But their 

 utterances were as 

 rare in time as they 

 are in quality. In fact, 

 it does not appear to 

 be generally known 

 that the ^^'ater Ouzel 

 is a beautiful singer, 

 and none of those who 

 have been so fortun- 



ate as to hear its song, 

 have heard enough to 

 pass final judgment 

 on it. We know, at 

 least, that it is clear 

 and strong and viva- 

 cious, and that in its 

 utterance the bird re- 

 calls its affinity to 

 both Thrushes and 

 Tlirasliers. 



The Ouzel places 

 its nest beside some 

 brawling stream, or 

 near or behind some 

 small cascade. In do- 

 ing so, the chief solici- 

 tude seems to be that 

 the living mosses, of 

 which the bulky globe 

 is composed, shall be kept moist by the Hying spray, and so retain tlieir 

 greenness. Indeed, one observer reports that in default of ready-made 

 conveniences, the bird itself turns sprinkler, not only alighting upon 

 the dome of its house after returning from a trip, but visiting the water 



Taken in Calif ornia. 



p;,<./..i by Fr.;ir 



THE L.^ST STATION. 



IN ANOTHER MOMENT THE OUZEL WILL VISIT HER BROOD UNDER THE 

 WATERFALL. 



