\Wa"ter ou"sel\, Water ouzel \Wa"ter ou"zel\ .
(Zo["o]l.)
Any one of several species of small insessorial birds of the
genus {Cinclus} (or {Hydrobates}), especially the European
water ousel ({C. aquaticus}), and the American water ousel
({C. Mexicanus}). These birds live about the water, and are
in the habit of walking on the bottom of streams beneath the
water in search of food.