THE WATER OUZEL. 



195 



enumerated frequent waters which are generally 

 either too deep, or too muddy, to allow the eye of 

 man to follow them to any great distance in their 

 descent. Add to this, that these birds are much 

 more shy and wary than the water ouzel, and they 

 contrive to keep out of the reach of observation ; 

 thus depriving naturalists of the opportunity of a 

 close investigation of their subaquatic habits. But 

 here, where the grebe, the coot, and the water hen 

 come close to the terrace which rises from the lake, 

 I can steal upon them, and see them dive whilst 

 I am standing above them ; and I can affirm that 

 they never do walk on the bottom. Now, the rivu- 

 lets frequented by the water ouzel afford numberless 

 opportunities to the observer who wishes to watch 

 the motions of this bird. He has only to conceal 

 himself behind some rock which rises from the 

 stream, or to show himself suddenly on the bank of 

 the brook where the water ouzel is found, and he 

 will see the little bird go under water, and he will 

 be able to trace its downward process. He then 

 fancies that be sees it walk on the ground, when, in 

 fact, it does no such thing; the observer s own eyes, 

 in this instance, giving him false information. 



Monsieur Herbert was the first man on record, 

 according to Buffon, who persuaded himself that the 

 water ouzel actually performed the impossible feat 

 of walking on the ground at the bottom of streams; 

 and he communicated his supposed discovery to the 

 count. The water ouzel appeared, says Monsieur 

 Herbert, " enveloped with air, which gave it a bril- 

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