4 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
(eS 
and claws black. This description, which is taken 
from Yarrell, applies exactly to Mr. Haddon’s bird. 
The female differs from the male in brightness of 
colour as well as in marking: she wants the white 
spot on the forehead; head, neck, back and wing- 
coverts dark hair-brown; greater coverts and tertials 
edged with dull white; tail-feathers like those of the 
male, but less bright in colour. 
The egg is a sort of greenish blue, like those of 
the Redstart or Hedgesparrow, for which it may 
easily be mistaken, as it is about the same size. 
Family MERvULID&. 
Of the twelve species of Merulide or Thrushes 
reckoned as British I have been able to include 
eight as belonging to Somersetshire. 
Dipper or WATER OvzEL, Cinclus aquaticus. The 
Water Ouzel, or “Water Colley,” as it is locally 
called, is by no means an uncommon bird about our 
streams and rivers, where it may constantly be seen 
perched on a branch or stone, and occasionally drop- 
ping off into the water for food. Many questions 
have arisen about its powers of swimming and 
diving: that it dives well and uses its wings in 
paddling itself under water there seems to be now 
no doubt, and equally little doubt that it does not 
run on the ground under water, as has been asserted 
