The Water Ouzel, or Dipper. 21 9 



reous ; the throat and breast white, spotted with red. 

 It builds its nest of the stalks of plants, and the female 

 lays six eggs, nearly all white, except at the blunt end, 

 which is encircled with brown or dark red marks. The 

 female is somewhat larger than the male ; the head is of 

 a rust colour, mixed with gray ; the breast, belly, and 

 sides of a dirty white ; the tail deep brown ; the ex- 

 terior web of the outer feathers white. Its manners are 

 similar to those of the large Butcher-bird. It frequently 

 preys on young birds, which it takes in the nest; it 

 likewise feeds on grasshoppers, beetles, and other insects. 

 During the period of incubation, the female soon dis- 

 covers herself at the approach of any person by her loud 

 and violent outcries. 



THE WATER OUZEL, OR DIPPER, 

 (Cinclus aquations,) 



Js found in most parts of this island, and is about the 

 size of the common blackbird. It feeds upon aquatic 

 insects and small fish. The head and upper side of the 

 neck are of a kind of umber colour, and sometimes black 

 with a shade of red ; the back and coverings of the 

 wings are a mixture of black and ash-colour, the throat 

 and breast perfectly white. 



The Dipper is said to walk along the bottom of a lake 

 or river as easily as on land ; but this is far from being 

 the case, as, though it readily plunges into the water, it 

 appears to tumble about in a very extraordinary manner, 



