OUZEL FEATS UNDER WATER. 83 



around smooth rocks here and there above the 

 water, and ended by plunging over a mass of 

 bowlders to a lower level. The bird began by 

 mounting one of those slippery rounded stones, 

 and thrusting her head under water up to her 

 shoulders. Holding it there a few seconds, ap- 

 parently looking for something, she then jumped 

 in where the turmoil was maddest, picked an 

 object from the bottom, and, returning to the 

 ledge, gave it to baby. 



The next moment, before I had recovered 

 from my astonishment at this feat of the ouzel, 

 she ran directly up the falls (which, though not 

 high, were exceedingly lively), being half the 

 time entirely under water, and exactly as much 

 at her ease as if no water were there ; though 

 how she could stand in the rapid current, not to 

 speak of walking straight up against it, I could 

 not understand. 



Often she threw herself into the stream, and 

 let it carry her down, like a duck, a foot or two, 

 while she looked intently on the bottom, then 

 simply walked up out of it on to a stone. I 

 could see that her plumage was not in the least 

 wet ; a drop or two often rested on her back 

 when she came out, but it rolled off in a mo- 

 ment. She never even shook herself. The 

 food she brought to that eager youngling every 

 few minutes looked like minute worms, doubt- 

 less some insect Iarva3. 



