Page:The Natural History of Ireland vol1.djvu/142

 the upper pond, Wolf-hill, plunged several times into the water, which was some feet deep, and remained, moving about in it with only their heads above the surface ; twice one of them disappeared altogether, but each time for only two seconds; they then pursued each other round the pond, alighted each on a separate stone, when one of them sang: and several times they repeated all these manœuvres." Early in the morning of the 9th of October, 1843, when driving down the wildly picturesque Glenapp, in Ayrshire, a couple of water ouzels appeared flying in company over the river, into which one of them suddenly dropped and dis- appeared. This was apparently done through mere playfulness, the water being very muddy from a long and heavy shower which had just fallen, and the food of the bird, it was conjectured, could hardly be seen, except upon the surface. It proceeded for several yards concealed by the water, excepting now and then, when it came so near the surface as to be visible : the river was shallow at the place, and rushing over a very rough stony bed. On emerging, it flew down the river after its companion. I have often, when a boy, seen the water ouzel dive into a pond of clear spring-water at Wolf-hill ten feet in depth ; but did not give attention to its motions beneath the surface ; it dived from a pipe placed about a foot above the water. Only by a quick plunge, or quiet dive from a little height have I seen this bird enter deep water ; but into shallow water, I have observed it walk gradually just so far as to enable a thorough ablution to be performed, after which it returned to the land like any other species.*

But to return to the nests. Of five other sites observed to be

The water ouzel is descanted on in an interesting manner in St. John's Wild sports, &c, of the Highlands, chapter 25, p. 198, and the author remarks: — "Despite of Mr. Waterton's strong opinion of the impossibility of the feat, he (the bird in question) walks and runs about on the gravel at the bottom of the water, scratching with his feet among the small stones, and picking away at all the small insects and animalcula which he can dislodge. On two or three occasions I have wit- nessed this act of the water ouzel, and have most distinctly seen the bird walking and feeding in this manner, under the pellucid waters of a Highland burn." Mr. Dillwyn, too, observes : "I have often seen this bird run rather than dive from the edge of a stream ; and while under water by some motion of the wings as well as legs, dabble along at the bottom for a minute or more." — Fauna and Flora of Swansea, p. 4.