118 MERULIDiE. 



the upper pond, Wolf-hill, plunged several times into the water, 

 which was some feet deep, and remained, moving about in it with 

 only their heads above the surface ; twice one of them disappeared 

 altogether, but each time for only two seconds; they then pursued 

 each other round the pond, alighted each on a separate stone, when 

 one of them sang: and several times they repeated all these 

 manoeuvres." Early in the morning of the 9th of October, 

 1843, when driving down the wildly picturesque Glenapp, in 

 Ayrshire, a couple of water ouzels appeared flying in company 

 over the river, into which one of them suddenly dropped and dis- 

 appeared. This was apparently done through mere playfulness, 

 the water being very muddy from a long and heavy shower which 

 had just fallen, and the food of the bird, it was conjectured, could 

 hardly be seen, except upon the surface. It proceeded for several 

 yards concealed by the water, excepting now and then, when 

 it came so near the surface as to be visible : the river was shallow 

 at the place, and rushing over a very rough stony bed. On 

 emerging, it flew down the river after its companion. I have 

 often, when a boy, seen the water ouzel dive into a pond of clear 

 spring-water at Wolf-hill ten feet in depth ; but did not give 

 attention to its motions beneath the surface ; it dived from a pipe 

 placed about a foot above the water. Only by a quick plunge, 

 or quiet dive from a little height have I seen this bird enter deep 

 water ; but into shallow water, I have observed it walk gradually 

 just so far as to enable a thorough ablution to be performed, 

 after which it returned to the land like any other species.* 



But to return to the nests. Of five other sites observed to be 



* The water ouzel is descanted on in an interesting manner in St. John's Wild 

 sports, &c, of the Highlands, chapter 25, p. 198, and the author remarks: — 

 " Despite of Mr. Waterton's strong opinion of the impossibility of the feat, he (the 

 bird in question) walks and runs about on the gravel at the bottom of the water, 

 scratching with his feet among the small stones, and picking away at all the small 

 insects and animalcula which he can dislodge. On two or three occasions I have wit- 

 nessed this act of the water ouzel, and have most distinctly seen the bird walking 

 and feeding in this manner, under the pellucid waters of a Highland burn." Mr. 

 Dillwyn, too, observes : " I have often seen this bird run rather than dive from the 

 edge of a stream ; and while under water by some motion of the wings as well as 

 legs, dabble along at the bottom for a minute or more." — Fauna and Flora of 

 Swansea, p. 4. 



