THE ANGLER'S SOUVENIR. 



opportunity of studying. Like that bird especially 

 in the breeding season the ouzels may be seen 

 at times leaping right out of the water in their 

 gambols. 



"That the bird actually does possess the power 

 of motion under water, the following notes on 

 a wounded bird, made on the spot, abundantly 

 prove : 



" ' November 29th, 1850. Bohernabreena. 

 Wounded a water-ouzel, which, as I observed them 

 all to do, immediately made for shore. On my 

 going to seiza him, he darted into the water, running 

 slap in. Waded in after him. Under water he 

 looks quite glossy, but does not seem increased in 

 bulk, the glossiness probably arising from the oiled 

 state of the plumage, or else from its peculiar 

 texture. When I first got up with the bird he was 

 perfectly stationary at the bottom, not using any 

 exertion to remain there (this remark applies to two 

 other birds wounded later in the day, which also 

 took to the water). The bird next got under a big 

 stone, and when I poked him out on one side he 

 ran to the other. After the lapse of a minute or 

 so he put his head out of the water to breathe, 

 always keeping the stone between him and me ; and 

 when I tried to catch him, he would dodge under 

 the water again, and come up on the other side. 



' ' ' Finding that I was still chasing him, he took 

 to the stream, and went under water faster than I 

 could follow him. He seemed to move entirely by 



