THE MISSEL THRUSH. 
121 
A reward of sixpence for every head would seem to have effected 
a complete “ clearance” of water ouzels in some districts there; as 
Sir Wm. Jardine says he was unable to meet with a single indi- 
vidual in the most suitable localities. This author further mentions 
(p. 71) that, in one Highland district, he had the factor's authen- 
ticated report of 548 of these birds having been destroyed within 
three years. When spending the month of September, 1842, at 
Aberarder, in the north of Inverness-shire, I was gratified to 
find (although the erroneous notion just mentioned respect- 
ing it is current there), that the water ouzel “ maintained its 
ground" about the streams where nature intended that it 
should be. It is known there by the name of king-fisher, as it 
is generally in the north of Scotland. Mr. Poole mentions that 
about Wexford also, the name of king-fisher is applied to this bird. 
He gives the following instance of its double signification : — Being 
one day on the look out for water ouzels, in a favourite haunt about a 
mill, and having fired at one, the report brought the miller to the 
spot. My correspondent anticipating much information from one 
who thus lived in their regular haunts, commenced questioning the 
miller as to the habits of the species ; but the amount of his 
knowledge consisted in the remark that the hen birds are common 
enough, but the cock, which is a most brilliant creature, had 
never come under his notice but once. Water ouzels of both 
sexes were, therefore, considered by the miller as hens, and the 
true king-fisher (Alcedo ispido) as the male bird. In no part of 
Ireland am I aware of the species under consideration suffering, 
as it does in Scotland, from ignorant persecution. 
THE MISSEL THRUSH* 
Turdus viscivorus , Linn. 
Is a resident species pretty generally distributed over 
wooded districts. 
* This bird passes under the name of Jay in many parts of Ireland ; about Belfast 
I have heard it called corny keevor. Butcher-bird is the term applied to it in a part 
of Donegal. 
