358 RURAL BIRD LIFE, 



over the nesting trees in a compact body in the breed- 

 ing season, his knowledge will inform him that all is 

 not right, and that some intruder is disturbing the ever 

 watchful colony. If he sees the Sandpiper or Plover 

 tumbling and reeling about before him, he will know the 

 wary bird is endeavouring to lure him from her treasured 

 eggs or young. Should he see the Swallows flying high 

 above him in the azure vault of heaven, he will know 

 that fine weather is at hand, or vice versa ; for after 

 studying their habits at various times, he knows the 

 insects which compose their food are acted upon by the 

 weather in the altitude of their flight. And thus we 

 might go on ; for not a single action of any member of 

 the vast feathered race is observed, but what is attended 

 with a long string of interesting facts, did we know how 

 to read them aright. It is only by the closest attention, 

 and by comparing one observation with another, that we 

 are enabled to read as it were the many and varied 

 habits of birds, from their actions at various times and 

 seasons, and under different circumstances. 



To obtain a thorough knowledge of the birds of the 

 field, the greatest attention must be paid to comparative 

 anatomy, for by its aid we are enabled to solve or rebut 

 some of the deepest questions affecting the economy of 

 birds. 



It has been ofttimes asserted that the Water Ousel is 

 capable of walking at the bottom of the stream ; but he 

 who closely observes this sub-aquatic little bird will find 

 that its passage under the surface of the stream is per- 

 formed by the aid of its short wings much as ducks do 

 when sporting and gamboling in the pool. The notion 

 of the bird's powers of walking under water is proved to 

 be erroneous by Newton's theory of gravitation, and all 

 known laws of animal mechanics. I bring this instance 



