304 ROCK AND RIVER OUSELS. 



still creek, and, when I cautiously peeped over the bank, 

 I discovered the little bird under water, rowing itself 

 both with wings and legs, at the same time pecking at 

 something, apparently with as much ease as a barn-door 

 fowl would devour a handful of grain. It was so intent 

 on its food that I was not perceived for a few seconds; 

 but, on looking up to see if the coast was clear, it saw 

 me at once through the water, rose to the surface and 

 flew away, as with one and the same motion. Another 

 winter, my notice was attracted by just such a ripple in 

 Lennie Water, and again I detected the ousel at his secret 

 meal. The water in both cases was very bright, but, with- 

 out a miscroscope, it could not be discovered whether the 

 delicacies on which it regaled were vegetable substances 

 or some minute water insects. 



In spring and summer these birds generally are found 

 singly or in pairs, but in winter they often congregate in 

 some favoured river, and may then be seen in great num- 

 bers. They do not always select the places where fish are 

 most abundant, as we should imagine from their living so 

 much on the roe. I stumbled upon a newly-flown nest of 

 these birds, when fishing the brook that separates Loch 

 Katrine from Achray, and could easily have caught some 

 of them ; but I rather amused myself by watching their 

 unformed bows and curtseys copied, no doubt, from the 

 parents, who were flitting up and down in great alarm. 



The water ousel is a hardy bird, especially for one that 

 does not migrate in summer; and it is a novelty, when 

 land and water are bound by an iron frost, and, 



