THE WATER OUZEL.
Water blackbird.Dipper.
Cinclus aquaticus, Bechst.
Sturnus cinclus, Linn.
Inhabits suitable localities throughout the island.
Where such prevail, it is as common in Ireland as in Scotland, Wales, and England.* This species might well be designated the bird of the water-fall, so constantly is it to be seen in con- nection with this fine feature of natural scenery. Once only did this bird come under my notice, on the Rhine from Cologne to Schaffhausen, and then it was at the great fall near the latter city. It is always attendant on the torrents rushing through the sublhne alpine defiles of Switzerland, and though Acerbi tells us that the species is not found in Italy, I at one view observed three or four individuals at the surpassingly beautiful cascade of Velino, the admirable description of which occupies four stanzas of Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. But, — to return homewards, — it may be seen about the humble water-falls in the glens and ravines of the Belfast mountains every day throughout the year. Such, however, are not its only haunts, for with the romantic and picturesque in scenery, we may, as a general rule, associate this species. When the stream descends to the lowlands, and
"Drags its slow length along,"
with a placid surface, unbroken by rock or stone, the water ouzel ceases to accompany it, and returns towards its upland source.
It is remarked by Mr. Selby, that these birds are seen "always on the margin of the stream, or perched in their particular attitude on some projecting stone in the middle of the water." Thus are they characteristically represented in his splendid Illustrations of British Ornithology, as well as by Bewick, whose vignette more especially exhibits the species in its "rightful place " in connection with the scenery depicted. About the ponds at Wolf-hill, an elevated situation near Belfast, where these birds
Mr. Selby having remarked that the water ouzel is "probably " met with in
Derbyshire, it may be stated, that I never saw the species more plentiful any where
than in that comity, especially about the romantic Dove, and the river at Matlock.
