ornithologist's text-book, 65 



"The Water Ouzel. 



" This bird frequents small brooks, particularly 

 those with steep banks, or that run through a rocky 

 country. It is of a very retired nature, and never 

 seen but single, or with its mate. It breeds in 

 holes in the banks, and lays five white transparent 

 eggs adorned with a fine blush of red. The nest 

 is constructed in a curious manner, of hay and 

 fibres of roots, and lined with dead oak leaves, 

 having a portico, or grand entrance made with 

 green moss. It feeds on insects and small fish ; 

 and as Mr. Willughby observes, though not web- 

 footed, will dart itself after them quite under water. 



u Its weight is two ounces and a half; the length 

 seven inches one quarter; the breadth eleven; the 

 bill is narrow, and compressed sideways ; the eye- 

 lids are white ; the head, cheeks, and hind part of 

 the neck are dusky, mixed with rust colour ; the 

 back, coverts of the wings, and of the tail also 

 dusky, edged with bluish ash colour; the throat 

 and breast white ; the belly ferruginous, vent fea- 

 thers a deep ash colour ; the legs are of a pale blue 

 before, black behind ; the tail short and black, 

 which it often flirts up, as it is sitting"— British 

 Zoology, ed. 1812, Vol. I, p. 398—9. 



The above is a little, but not much, shorter than 

 the average of Pennant's descriptions, but that 

 which follows is about one-third longer than Lew- 

 in's average : — 



" Water Ouzel. 



" Stumus cinclus, Lin. Syst. — Le Merle (TEau, 

 Briss. Orn. 



" The length of this bird is not more than seven 

 f 3 



