322 OF BIRDS. 



piercing luftre; a red fpot between them and the noftrils, and 

 another above them, fucceeded by a white one, fliaded with red, 

 The crown of the head is of a deep green, with tranfverfe lines 

 of blue. The whole upper plumage of the neck and back, to 

 the infertion of the tail, and of the wings, a beautiful azure, 

 bright and fplendent, beyond expreffion, the eye hardly able to 

 look upon it for any length of time without being dazzled, a 

 near attention fhewing fome elegant tranfverfe ftrice of a deeper 

 tinct ; from the Ihoulders variegated with blue and green of a 

 great luftre. The throat, breaft, and belly, are a reddifh-brown, 

 on a white ground. The tail is fhort, not more than an inch 

 and an half in length, compofed of twelve feathers, of a deep 

 blue, with a blackifh. caft. The legs and feet are fhort and fmall, 

 black before, and red behind, as are the foles of the feet and 

 back-toes ; the outer toe of each foot adheres to the middle ones 

 for the fpace of three joints ; a circumftance very remarkable, 

 and peculiar to this bird. We have it frequently on the banks 

 of the rivers of North and South Tyne, where it burroughs, ufually 

 about half a yard under the furface of the earth, and lives upon 

 fmall fifhes. The banks of our other large and fhady trout- 

 ilreams alfo have its company. 



19. We have the Water-Ouzel (ivj in mountainous rivulets, 

 about cataracts arid water-falls, but it is not common. It is of 

 the fize of a blackbird, but of a fhorter body, and thicker neck ; 

 the beak ilcnder, ftraight, and fharp, about an inch long, and 

 black ; the tongue alfo black, fmall, and fomewhat bifid at the tip ; 

 the eyes large, the iris of a hazel-colour ; the eye-lids encircled 



(w) Merula aquatica. If 'HI. Orn. p. 104. t. 24. Raj. Av. p. 66. n. 7. Cbarlet. Av. 

 p. 115. n. 12. Motacilla pe&ore albo, corpore nigro. Linn. Faun. Suec. p, 82. n. 216. 



-tfith 



