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 he 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 thp 
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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