12 THE DIPPER. 



of caterpUlars, I walked into the garden, where there were some gooseberry 

 bushes covered with caterpillars of Abraxas grossvlariata ; thither I bent my 

 steps, and saw the Cuckoo engaged in clearing the bushes of the caterpillars. 

 When she had what she considered sufficient for that meal, off she flew in a 

 direct line over the wallj and as if she had been shot, dropped on the other 

 side, where the hedge in question was. In this manner the old bird continued 

 to feed her young as long as a caterpillar remained on the bushes. When 

 they were finished, she proceeded to a field near in quest of foodj and through 

 her diligence her progeny got as fat as a London Alderman. This proves 

 further to me that the Cuckoo lays but one egg; at least this one could have 

 laid no more; yet I never observed her sitting on the young in the nest, as 

 other birds do. I have no doubt but some of your readers will ca^il with me 

 and say I am mistaken, having taken something else for the Cuckoo: but I 

 say no; and hope before I80I is ended, to be enabled to startle the Ornitho- 

 logist a little more in the history of this singular bird; and set aside a great 

 deal that has been in my opinion injudiciously promulgated. 



('hannindcr^ Dortn'tj Novemher^ 18;")0. 



THE DIPPER, {CINCLUS AQUATICUS.) 



BY ROBEKT GUAY, ESQ, 



Sc;oTL/VND may be said to be the stronghold in Britain of the Dipper, 

 as it is found in almost every district, extending even to the Hebrides; and 

 the author, from whom this remark is taken, also beautifully observes:""^ ''The 

 solitary and secluded nature of the streams it frequents, and their often wild 

 character, render it a most, fitting accompaniment — sufficient to break the 

 solitude, but never obtruding on the calmness of the picture; one of those 

 beautiftU instances of nature's chaste compositions, where the life of the landscape 

 combines to harmonize with all around." 



Few persons, we apprehend, would imagine the common Water, Crow to 

 be one of our most pleasing songsters; yet it is so. The angler and the 

 rambling naturalist know well its musical powers, as they from time to time 

 have opportunity of listening to its sweet melody, barely heard above the ripple 

 of the stream. It is a most unusual accomplishment for a bird of its habits; 

 for, as is well known, it seeks its food at the bottom of pools, or the bed of 

 the gliding brook, into which it plunges after aquatic insects, shells, and small 

 fishes. We have seen it hunting for prey in the immediate neighbourhood of 

 the Kingfisher and the Yellow Wagtail — two more g-aily-coloured members of 

 the feathered tribes, and must own, our partiality for the 'pyet' suffered noiight 

 from the comparison. Probably these beautifully descriptive lines by Corrington 

 were at the time uppermost in oiir thoughts: — 



* Sir William Janline, in the "Naturalist's Library." 



