314 The Field Naturalist's Quarterly November 



like the song-thrush, but may be known by the orange-red 

 colour of the flanks and under side of its wings, very 

 noticeable in flight. When hard weather enables us to get 

 close to the redwing, we may also see the very distinct 

 whitish streak over the eye. 



The Water-Ouzel or Dipper [Cinclus aquations) is only 

 found in mountain or moorland districts, where rapid 

 streams rush and tumble through rocky ravines, though the 

 bird sometimes comes farther down these same streams to 

 the level of the fields. Unlike any other British bird in 

 habits and appearance, we easily identify it. Following up 

 or down the beautiful beck which he always makes his 

 permanent home, we soon catch sight of him taking his 

 favourite bath in the pool below the fall, or sitting on a 

 rock curtseying, from which habit he takes the name of 

 Dipper. About the size of a song-thrush, though having 

 a short tail, he is sooty-brown above and has a brilliant 

 white throat and breast. We have just time to see this 

 before he is off with rapid flight straight up or down the 

 stream, calling — " tzit, tzit, tzit." 



The Starling [Sturnus vulgaris) is also about the size of 

 a thrush, and we may see him any morning before break- 

 fast by looking out of the bedroom window, for he is 

 almost sure to be singing on the roof or a neighbouring 

 chimney-pot, all the time shuffling his wings. He appears 

 to be black, but on a nearer inspection his dark and glossy 

 plumage is seen to be beautifully spangled with yellowish 

 spots. His song, too, is characteristic, and made up of 

 gurgling, guttural notes and squeaks, and sounds like 

 running machinery. This is the bird which in little parties 

 runs about on lawns and fields, poking in the grass for 

 worms, etc., and seemingly constantly quarrelling. They 

 are almost everywhere in Britain as common as sparrows. 



The Rook (Corvus frugilegus). This is the large black 

 bird, larger than a tame pigeon, which we so commonly see 

 in flocks feeding together in the fields, flying overhead 

 together calling " caw-caw," or in spring-time busily engaged 

 with their large nests in the tall, bare trees, their colonies 

 being called rookeries. Unfortunately for the young 

 naturalist, this bird is very often confounded with the crow, 



