346 ENGLISH BIRD LIFE 



of a loafer with nets about the fishing-ground being 

 sternly discouraged by the river-watcher. At the 

 same time Kingfishers are still ruthlessly shot down 

 in the winter, and even in the most favoured districts 

 one or two birds at the most are alone to be met 

 with. 



A second member of this race — the Belted King- 

 fisher — is accounted a British bird. It is a North 

 American species, and its inclusion rests on one or 

 two casual occurrences in Ireland. 



The Dipper — Water-ouzel, Water-Colley and 

 Water-crow, as it is variously named — builds 

 its large dome-shaped nest, often drenched with 

 the spray of cascade or waterfall, upon some 

 mossy rock, bank or buttress of bridge, always 

 in closest proximity to the rapid stream which 

 the bird never deserts. Indeed, so great is its 

 affection for the river, that a nest is rarely found 

 which is not overhanging or entirely surrounded 

 w^ith running water. Even if the bird is forcibly 

 driven aside, it makes the briefest detour across the 

 angle of the meadow, returning to the stream which 

 it loves without the least possible delay. The Dip- 

 per is with great difficulty led to forsake the nest 

 which it has laboured so hard to build. Even if its 

 eggs be taken time after time, it will still continue 

 to lay. 



Throughout Great Britain, wherever trout- 

 streams exist, except in some few localities — ^the 

 East Riding of York, for example — the Dipper is 

 usually to be found resting on the shingly bank 

 beneath the willows or flitting from stone to stone. 



