THE DIPPER 85 



Exercising the utmost caution, I slowly gained 

 the heart of the thicket, and there, not far from 

 the edge of the brook, gathered about me a small 

 heap of withered leaves which, as opportunity 

 served, I quietly sprinkled on the briars, that 

 I might be still better hidden while watching the 

 water-ouzel as she searched the bed of the stream 

 for food. 



Presently a loud, ringing call — chit-chit ! chit- 

 chit ! — came from some distance away, and a 

 second dipper flew straight up-stream, and 

 alighted on the stone where, a few minutes 

 previously, the first bird had been standing. 

 Without delay he joined his little mate in her 

 search for food in the shallow, and I was treated 

 to a display such as hitherto it had never been my 

 privilege to witness. Now and then, the birds 

 were so close that I could follow with ease their 

 every movement in the clear water. 



They shot hither and thither beneath the 

 surface, using their wings as fins in playful pursuit 

 of each other ; they explored the hollows be- 

 tween the pebbles in diligent search of worms and 

 caddis larvae ; occasionally they pushed the 

 stones aside, and firmly grasped them with 

 their long, curved claws while they thrust their 

 beaks into the gravel ; then, having found the 

 desired dainty, they quitted their hold on the 

 stones, floated buoyantly to the top, and with 



