668 



OUSEL 



from other birds that, though essentially one of the true PASSERES 

 (i.e. OSCINES), it forms a distinct Family, Cindidse, which has no 

 very near allies. That some of its peculiarities (for instance, the 

 sternum in adult examples having the posterior margin generally 

 entire, and the close covering of down that clothes the whole body 

 a character fully recognized by Nitzsch) are correlated with its 

 aquatic habit is probably not to be questioned; but this fact 

 furnishes no argument for associating it, as has often been done, 

 with the Turdidse (THRUSH), the Troglodytidse (WREN), or much less 

 with other groups to which it has undoubtedly no affinity. The 

 Dipper haunts rocky streams, into which it boldly enters, generally 

 by deliberately wading, and then by the strenuous combined action 

 of its wings and feet makes its way along the bottom in quest of 

 its living prey freshwater mollusks, and aquatic insects in their 

 larval, pupal or mature condition. By the careless and ignorant it 

 is accused of feeding on the spawn of fishes, and it has been on that 

 account subjected to much persecution. Innumerable examinations 

 of the contents of its stomach have not only proved that the charge 

 is baseless, but that the bird clears off many of the worst enemies 

 of the precious product. Short and squat of stature, active and 

 restless in its movements, silky black above, with a pure white 

 throat and upper part of the breast, to which succeeds a broad 

 band of dark bay, it is a familiar figure to most fishermen on 

 the streams it frequents, while the cheerful song of the cock, 

 often heard in the hardest frost, helps to make it a favourite with 



them in spite of the 

 obloquy under which 

 it labours. The "Water- 

 Ousel's nest is a very 

 curious structure, out- 

 wardly resembling a 

 Wren's, but built on a 

 wholly different prin- 

 ciple, an ordinary cup- 

 shaped nest of grass 

 lined with dead leaves, 

 placed in some con- 

 venient niche, but en- 

 cased with moss so as 

 to form a large mass 

 that covers it completely 

 except only a small hole 



for the bird's passage. The eggs laid within are from four to 

 six in number, and are of a pure white. These remarks refer 

 to the Water -Ousel of central and western Europe, including 

 the British Islands; but, except as regards plumage, it is be- 



MEXICANTJS. 



