44 OUR NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



the nest, and forming, as it were, a crystal veil to 

 it. Indeed, the eaves of the nest (as I call them) 

 were always dripping wet, whereas the oak lining 

 witliin remained always perfectly dry. The art 

 with which this nest was accommodated to its 

 situation was consummate.'* Mr. Thompson men- 

 tions a pair of water ouzels, which frequented 

 a shade erected over a large mill-wheel, of forty 

 feet diameter. It was supposed that they liad 

 a nest there, though it could not he discovered ; 

 but he adds, that the appearance of the birds 

 often caused surprise, as they emerged from the 

 dark and gloomy abode, between the arms of this 

 gigantic wheel, which was almost constantly in 

 motion. 



That beautiful bird, the Rose Ouzel* [Pastor 

 roseus), now and then appears in our island, 

 though too rarely to deserve anything more than 

 a passing notice among our singing birds. Few 

 have heard its notes in our land. Mr. ]5roderip 

 remarks of it: — " The song of this species appears 



* The Rose Ouzel is eight inches and a half in length. The 

 whole head and neck, the wings, and the tail, are black with a 

 blue gloss ; the whole middle part of the body, both above and 

 below, rose-pink ; beak and feet yellowish : the head is adorned 

 with a fine falling crest. 



