. The history of birds : their varieties and oddities, comprising graphic descriptions of nearly all known species of birds, with fishes and insects, the world over, and illustrating their varied habits, modes of life, and distinguishing peculiarities by means of delightful anecdotes and spirited engravings . migrate in quest of food during thoseverity of the weather in the colder states. It is not however improb-able, but that most of the migrating families of this bird, which we this season, have merely travelled eastward from the cold westernplains that are annually covered with sno
. The history of birds : their varieties and oddities, comprising graphic descriptions of nearly all known species of birds, with fishes and insects, the world over, and illustrating their varied habits, modes of life, and distinguishing peculiarities by means of delightful anecdotes and spirited engravings . migrate in quest of food during thoseverity of the weather in the colder states. It is not however improb-able, but that most of the migrating families of this bird, which we this season, have merely travelled eastward from the cold westernplains that are annually covered with snow. They are now seen inconsiderable numbers in and round the salt marshes, roving about inflocks of ten to thirty or more, seeking the shelter o^ the sea-coast,though not in such dense flocks as the true Starlings; these in themanner of our common Blackbirds assemble in winter, like dark clouds,moving as one body, and when about to descend, perform progressivecircular evolutions in the air, like a phalanx in the order of battle ; andwhen settled, blacken the earth with their numbers, as well as stun theears with their chatter. Like crows also, they seek the shelter of reedmarshes to pass the night, and in the day take the benefit of everjluunj and sheltered coverU THE WATER OUZEL. 145 THE WATER WATER OUZEL, The Water Ouzel is, in size, somewhat less than the BlackbimIts bill is black, and almost ^ht. Tlieeyelids are wliite. The upper parts of thehead and neck are of a deep brown ; and therest of the upj^er parts, the belly, the vent,and the tail, are black. The chin, the forepartof the neck, and breast, are white or yellow-ish. The legs are black. This bird frequents the banks of springsand brooks; and prefers those of limpidstreams whose fall is rapid, and whose bed is broken with stones andfrai^ments of rocks. Its habits are singular. Aquatic birds, with palmated feet, swimor dive; those which inhabit the shores, wade by means of their talllegs, without wetting
Size: 1827px × 1368px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectzoology
