THE WATER-OUZEL. 35 



and during flight utter their single monotonous alarm 

 or call-note. When about to alight, they drop or splash 

 into the pools or stream, and almost never at once 

 settle on the stones or rocks. They are one of our 

 most pleasing songsters, though from the lowness of 

 the note it is not often observed ; but to the angler, 

 who plies his rod at all hours and in the most seques- 

 tered scenes, it is a well-known and welcome strain. 

 It may be at times heard during the whole year ; but 

 spring and the breeding season are the periods when 

 it may be most easily and constantly enjoyed." 



The birds being early breeders, this sign of the 

 coming year is often heard in February, while the 

 streams are still bound up in ice, and a clear shining 

 morning at this early time will be sure to display 

 some of those songsters, perched on a prominent 

 stone or stick, or on the edge of a frozen pool, war- 

 bling their notes, just audible above the murmurs 

 of the stream. In winter, when the higher streams 

 become frozen and the cold intense, the "water- 

 crow " removes to the banks of the larger and lower 

 flowing rivers, or to the margins of some unfrozen 

 lake. Here they find a more abundant supply of 

 food, and their aquatic habits and manner of feeding 

 are more easily observed. On every reach one or 

 two may be now seen perched on some projecting 

 stone or stick, or watching by the very edge of the ice, 

 whence they drop at once on their prey, consisting at 

 this time in great part of small fishes. They are 

 most active in their motions during this occupation, 

 and dive and return to their station with great ra- 

 pidity. In milder weather, or when the rivers are less 

 D 2 



