The Natural History of Selborne

Slipped out & planted many doz. of good polyanths.  Young Geo: Tanner shot a water-ouzel, merula aquatica, near Ja: Knight’s ponds.  This is the first bird of the sort that was ever observed in this parish.  This bird, being only pinioned, was caught alive, & put into a cage, to which it soon became reconciled; & is fed with woodlice, & small snails.  W: ouzels are very common in the mountainous parts of the N. of England, & in N. Wales.  They haunt rocky streams, & water-falls; & tho’ not web-footed often dive into currents in pursuit of insects.