210 



British Cage Birds. 



easily caught, but the greatest difficulty will be experienced 

 in reconciling old birds to a cage or aviary, and keeping 

 them alive. 



Food and Teeatment.— "When in a wild state. Water Ouzels 

 live principally on small fishes and aquatic insects, mollusca, 

 and worms. In confinement, they will eat mealworms, flies, 

 ants' eggs, the roe and milt of fishes, and the Compounds 

 recommended in the Chapter on " The Starling," mixed. 



Eeaeing- the Young. — The young should be taken at twelve 

 or thirteen days old, and fed on bread soaked in milk, 

 mixed with ants' eggs. Flies and mealworms, cut in small 

 pieces, may likewise be given. When the birds are able to 

 pick for themselves, discontinue the bread and milk, and 

 feed on ants' eggs, flies, mollusca, small garden worms and 

 snails, and insects of almost any kind. At the age of six 

 weeks they may be turned into the aviary. They ought to 

 have a constant supply of water as soon as they are a 

 month old. A few flies, with cut wings, placed on the water 

 occasionally, will prove a great treat. 



DisTiNGuiSHTNO Marks OF CocK AND Hen. — The female is 

 not so large as the male, and paler in colour, especially on the 

 head and neck. The white does not extend so far down 

 the breast, and is dingy or greyish in hue. The bordering 

 on the wing feathers is broader, and greyer than in the 

 male bird. 



Song. — The voice is loud, clear, sonorous, and melodious, 

 with much variation, considerable compass, and of long 

 duration. The thrilling notes uttered by this bird make the 

 immediate locality echo with the sound. 



Points to be Observed in Judging. — The Water Ouzel is 

 not a fitting bird to show ; hence, it is unnecessary to enume- 

 rate the points it would require to possess to enable it to 

 compete, with a fair chance of success, at an open all England 

 show, in a mixed class of British birds. 



General Eemarks. — The Water Ouzel is known in some 

 localities by the name of the Water Crow, and in others by 

 that of the Blackwater Bird. The Dipper is a very common 

 appellation ; and it is also called, by some birdcatchers, the Black 

 Diver. It is an interesting bird, and, but for the difficulty 

 of keeping it in health in confinement, owing to its peculiar 

 habits, and its fondness for water, would doubtless become 



