I 
The species is solitary, and its haunts principally con- 
fined to rapid streams, in hilly situations ; it is found in 
Devonshire, Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Norfolk, West- 
moreland, Cumberland, Yorkshire, Wales, and Scotland, 
and most probably is to be met with in numerous other 
situations, but from its retired habits escapes observation. 
On land its actions are particularly remarkable ; it makes 
but very short flights, and when running, its tail is almost 
always flirted up ; it usually sings perched on some little 
projecting stone or stump on the side of a stream, and 
frequently in the midst of its song will plunge to the 
bottom in pursuit of small fish ; these it mostly devours 
on land ; and not unfrequently two birds may be seen tug- 
ging at a fish or worm, that one of them has caught. 
It is one of the earliest of our song birds, beginning its 
note sometimes as early as January, or the first week in 
February ; its song is soft but very lively, with a peculiar 
sweetness and a considerable degree of variety, and is quite 
' peculiar to itself, having little or no affinity to that of 
any bird with which we are acquainted, Mr. Gough, of 
Middleshaw, informs us, that November is the season of full 
sonff, and that these birds are exceedingly quarrelsome 
among themselves. They usually build in February, and 
have eass early in March, at least, that is the general time of 
breeding in Westmoreland: Mr. Montagu says. May is the 
season of nidification ; if so, it is not a little remarkable 
that this species should breed earlier in the north than the 
south of this kingdom. 
