194 THE WATER OUZEL. 
supposed to possess a subaquatic faculty, not granted 
to any other bird in the creation. 
The water ouzel is found in hilly countries, where 
rapid rivulets wind their way through an abrupt and 
rocky bed. Here, it is never seen; but I have had 
opportunities of paying attention to its habits in the 
county of Northumberland, where it frequents the 
borders of transparent streams, which meander 
through the moors. There, you will find its nest, 
in favoured localities, overhanging the brook ; while, 
ever and anon, you see the bird itself go under 
water, in quest of its wonted food. 
This is the bird which has given rise to so much 
controversy. This is the bird whose supposed sub- 
aquatic pranks have set the laws of gravity at defi- 
ance, by breaking through the general mandate 
which has ordained that things lighter than water 
shall rise towards its surface, and that things which 
are heavier shall sink beneath it. If the water ouzel 
can walk on the ground at the bottom of the water, 
then, indeed, we may exclaim with the poet, 
‘“ Omnia Nature prepostera legibus ibunt, 
Parsque suum mundi nulla tenebit iter.” 
All Nature’s laws will tumble in decay, 
And e’en the world itself will lose its way. 
How comes it that writers concede to the dipper 
alone the privilege of turning nature’s mandates 
topsyturvy? Why do not they tell us, that the 
grebes, the coots, and the water hens (which last 
have cloven feet) can walk at the bottom of streams? 
The question is easily answered. The birds just 
