44 OUR IRISH SONG BIRDS. 



given him his local name of u The Whistler " on the 

 Wicklow Mountains. Its alarm cry resembles that of 

 the Blackbird, and its loud call-note of " tac, tac, tac," 

 also reminds us of that bird. 



The food of the Ring Ouzel is principally insects, 

 worms, snails, berries, and the seeds of various trees. 

 In England the young are said to feed on garden 

 fruit. In Ireland, however, the bird is much more rare, 

 and apparently much more shy also, as I have never 

 heard of any such malpractices here. 



The breeding-ground of the Ring Ouzel is the moor- 

 land district or the mountain side, far from the haunts 

 of men ; there, flitting from boulder to boulder, with his 

 white gorget glistening in the sun, he spends his Irish 

 summer ; and when his work is done, and autumn chills 

 tell him that it is time to go, he departs on his long yet 

 pleasant journey to southern shores. 



The nest is like a Blackbird's, but is always on or 

 near the ground. The eggs, too, resemble those of that 

 bird ; but the red in the markings is of a more decided 

 hue. 



DIPPER. 



Cinclus aquaticus ; Cincle Plongeur ; Wasser A msel. 



Water Ouzel ; Water Crow ; Water Blackbird ; 

 Kingfisher ; River Pye. 



Bill, bluish-black ; upper plumage, dark brown ; back, 

 dark grey ; chin, throat, and breast, pure white ; lower 

 part, chestnut ; tail, short, and somewhat erect. Length, 

 seven inches and a-half. 



