THE WATER-OUZEL 



293 



same on seeing a man for the first time, as when 

 they have seen him frequently. 



On the lower reaches of the rivers where mills 



are built, they sing 

 on through the din 

 of the machinery, 

 and all the noisy 

 confusion of dogs, 

 cattle, and work 

 men. On one 

 occasion, while a 

 wood-chopper was at work on the river-bank, I ob 

 served one cheerily singing within reach of the flying 

 chips. Nor does any kind of unwonted disturbance 

 put him in bad humor, or frighten him out of calm 

 self-possession. In passing through a narrow 



THE OUZEL AT HOME. 



