194- THE WATER OUZEL. 



supposed to possess a subaquatic faculty, not granted 

 to any other bird in the creation. 



The water ouzel is found in hilly countries, where 

 rapid rivulets wind their way through an abrupt and 

 rocky bed. Here, it is never seen ; but I have had 

 opportunities of paying attention to its habits in the 

 county of Northumberland, where it frequents the 

 borders of transparent streams, which meander 

 through the moors. There, you will find its nest, 

 in favoured localities, overhanging the brook ; while, 

 ever and anon, you see the bird itself go under 

 water, in quest of its wonted food. 



This is the bird which has given rise to so much 

 controversy. This is the bird whose supposed sub- 

 aquatic pranks have set the laws of gravity at defi- 

 ance, by breaking through the general mandate 

 which has ordained that things lighter than water 

 shall rise towards its surface, and that things which 

 are heavier shall sink beneath it. If the water ouzel 

 can walk on the ground at the bottom of the water, 

 then, indeed, we may exclaim with the poet, 



" Omnia Naturae prsepostera legibus ibunt, 

 Parsque suum mundi nulla tenebit iter." 



All Nature's laws will tumble in decay, 

 And e'en the world itself will lose its way. 



How comes it that writers concede to the dipper 

 alone the privilege of turning nature's mandates 

 topsyturvy? Why do not they tell us, that the 

 grebes, the coots, and the water hens (which last 

 have cloven feet) can walk at the bottom of streams? 

 The question is easily answered. The birds just 



