THE WATER OUZEL. 
193 
« Northumberland; but I own that I never had courage 
to follow it to the realms below, in order to have a 
clear and distinct view of its proceedings. I wish that 
old Nicolas Pesce were alive in these days. I would 
engage him tp put this very important ornithological 
question at rest for ever. Old Nicolas was quite 
at home under water. His toes and fingers (credat 
Judmus) were said to be webbed ; and he could 
take in at one gulp as much breath as would serve 
him for a whole day. They tell us, he would often 
spend five days together in the midst of the waves, 
and live on the fish which he caught. The roar- 
ing gulfs among the Lipari Islands were a kind of 
Hyde Park promenade to him. Nick would resort 
to them whenever he felt inclined to take an airing, 
either for his amusement, or for the benefit of his 
health. 
ON THE HABITS OF THE WATER OUZEL, 
WITH A FEW REMARKS ON THE OIL 
GLANDS IN BIRDS. 
The water ouzel is sometimes known by the name 
of the dipper in England, and by that of merle d eau 
in France, and is pronounced to be a water-fowl by 
Buffon. Indeed, as the count affected to believe the 
strange story of Monsieur Herbert^ he might have 
called it the water bird j^ar* excellence ; it being sup- 
o 
