284 THE MOUNTAINS OF CALIFORNIA 



incloses him like a bell-glass, the shell being broken 

 and re-formed as he lifts and dips his head ; while 

 ever and anon he sidles out to where the too pow 

 erful current carries him off his feet ; then he dex 

 terously rises on the wing and goes gleaning again 

 in shallower places. 



But during the winter, when the stream-banks 

 are embossed in snow, and the streams them 

 selves are chilled nearly to the freezing-point, so 

 that the snow falling into them in stormy weather 

 is not wholly dissolved, but forms a thin, blue 

 sludge, thus rendering the current opaque then 

 he seeks the deeper portions of the main rivers, 

 where he may dive to clear water beneath the 

 sludge. Or he repairs to some open lake or mill- 

 pond, at the bottom of which he feeds in safety. 



When thus compelled to betake himself to a 

 lake, he does not plunge into it at once like a 

 duck, but always alights in the first place upon 

 some rock or fallen pine along the shore. Then 

 flying out thirty or forty yards, more or less, ac 

 cording to the character of the bottom, he alights 

 with a dainty glint on the surface, swims about, 

 looks down, finally makes up his mind, and dis 

 appears with a sharp stroke of his wings. After 

 feeding for two or three minutes he suddenly re 

 appears, showers the water from his wings with 

 one vigorous shake, and rises abruptly into the air 

 as if pushed up from beneath, comes back to his 

 perch, sings a few minutes, and goes out to dive 

 again ; thus coming and going, singing and diving 

 at the same place for hours. 



The Ouzel is usually found singly; rarely in 



