The Marietta Journal

An Odd Bird That Likes Fishing.

Away up on the mountain side, where the numerous streams find their way through deep, dark canons down to the pulse beat of old ocean, is the natural summer home of the water ousel, the strangest of all strange birds. You seldom see more than one of them at a time. They are of a dark blue color, and are easily recognized by a peculiar, quick, jerking motion, which they never seem to tire of. And as they flit from rock to rock they are continually bobbing up and down, performing such a polite little courtesy as would cause you to smile to see it.

Owing to their peculiar habits and the isolated spots they select to build their nests no one but the most ardent sportsmen and naturalists succeeds in finding them. Hence a water ousel's nest, with two of their eggs in it, has a commercial value among nest collectors of $25. They always build their nests just back of some waterfall or under some overhanging bank, where they have to go through or under the water to get to it.

Another strange habit of this bird is the deliberate manner in which they appear to commit suicide. They will start slowly, very slowly, to wade right down into the water until they disappear from view, but if the water is clear and you have a sharp eye you can still see their little dark forms clinging to the bottom in search of their morning repast, which consists of periwinkles.—Tacoma Ledger.