BIRDS OF THE RIVER 351 



Although as a race it is set far apart from the com- 

 mon Wren, the two are, in many respects, curiously 

 ahke. They differ, of course, in size and colouring, 

 but in characteristic movements, mode of flight and 

 even of nest-building, they appear to be animated 

 bv a common spirit, and in shape they are almost 

 identical. Let any one watch a Wren as it takes 

 its wav along some streamlet — now moving on a 

 rockv ledge, pausing occasionally with jerk of tail 

 and bowing movement of head and breast — now flit- 

 ting with a little cry to some mossy stone in mid- 

 stream, now pausing contentedly amid the cataracts 

 to utter, even in mid-winter, its small chirping song 

 — and the resemblance between the two birds will be 

 seen at once. The title of Water-wren would be at 

 least more appropriate to the Dipper than that of 

 Water-crow, a bird with which our friend of the 

 riverside has nothing in common. 



But in one respect the Dipper difi'ers essentially 

 from the Wren and, indeed, from all other birds. 

 Although it is not web-footed and does not swim 

 upon the surface, it is none the less truly aquatic. 

 In seeking for food, which consists largely of 

 water-beetles and the larv^ of various insects, it 

 has a method which is entirely its own. From 

 some shelving rock or bank it w^alks gently into 

 the shallow water until at length it is entirely 

 submerged. Now, in favourable circumstances, it 

 may be seen literally flying under water, its wings 

 extended to the full, busily engaged in picking up 

 its minute prey from the weedy nooks and interstices 

 of the pebbles. It travels to no great distance, often 

 pausing at a fruitful feeding spot, where, with down- 



