, 1903-01-01
BUFFUM IN LARA
ME REPUBLICAN.
Against the wanton Destruction Of one
Of the Sweetest Singers Of Wyoming.

To the Editor of The Republi-
can.
A few days ago, under the
heading "Kingfsher," Mr.. Land
made a suggestion that the bird
in question should be destroyed
by hunters on every occasion be-
cause they feed on young trout.
From the description and the
statement that the bird is a win
ter resident, 1 believe the bird IS
the American Dipper or Water
Ouzel instead OF the Kingfsher,
which has a very different APP
pearance and does not stay with
us through the year.
1 would seriously protest
against the suggestion that these
birds be unfortunately des-
troyed. That they do catch small
trout is very true. If l did not
know this from personal observa-
ton, 1 would hesitate to question
so close a scientific observer as
Mr.. Land. l have seer one of
these active little fellows catch a
much larger trout than would be
believed by anyone not %acquaint-
ed with their habits, and the fish
was captured in very swift water.
However. our birds are rare
enough and 30 few in numbers
that 1 would rather catch a few
less trout on my angling expedi-
tions, so long as there is no seri-
GUS damage to the supply, and
let the water ousel live.
This is one of the most wonder
full and interesting birds in the
United States, and 1 believe is
the sweetest singer in the Rocky
Mountain region. He is a most fas-
cinating little fellow, as he swiftly
fits along the stream, always over
the water and parallel with its
surface, or stops for a moment to
teeter up aad down on a spray
covered boulder. Resting on a
stone or piece of drift wood un-
derneath a fall or near a rapid,
this little bunch of feathered ami
nation pours forth a soul thrill
ling song of wonderful sweetness.
The song resembles that of a can
airy though it is softer and sweet
er, and, with the accompaniment
of the murmuring stream, furni-
shes "Nixie chords" to be remem-
bered longer than grand opera.
This bird has true perching
feet and it would seem that evolu-
ton has not at all itted it for the
life it leads. In a recent article
DIR. Henshall, writing of the wa
ter ouzle, says: at wades along
in shallow water like a snipe or
plover, though its legs are short.
1t swims on the surface like a
duck, though it is not webb foot
ed. 1t dives like a grebe or loon
and swims, or rather flies, for long
distances under water, using its
wings alone, its legs stretching
out behind. 1t walks on the bot
tom of a stream or pond like a
submarine diver in his armor."
The water ouzel, American Dip
per, water thrush, or teeter-bird,
as l knew him when a boy, lives
largely on insects and other small
aquatic life in our mountain
streams, often far above the range
of fish of any kind. They are
said to be quite destructive to
young trout, especially when they
frequent nursery fish ponds,
where the writer above quoted
states that they will place their
bills under water and wiggle them
like bait to attract little fry to
their doom. However, it is easy
to brighten them away from any
locality with n or two well di-
recred shots, and not necessary to
kill them along the streams, where
they are anything but abundant.
Their sweet song and companion
ableness is worth much to the
angler who is a lover of nature.
They are protected by law and
anyone killing n is subject to a
heavy fine. A good picture of
1