254 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS 



forked tail, suffice to distinguish it from the redpolls, tits, 

 and other small birds that frequent the same woods. The 

 siskins feed on the shoots and buds of the trees named. 

 On December 2nd (1905), I watched a large flock of 

 siskins and redpolls feeding" on the seeds of dockins, 

 sorrel, and (apparently) nettles, on the Clint banks near 

 Houxty. 



In November many salmon leave the larger rivers and 

 enter the burns ; while the trout, which spawn earlier, 

 have already pushed far up the tiniest hill-streams, taking 

 advantage of every "spate" to reach spots high out on 

 the fells where the streamlet has dwindled to a mere 

 drain with the shaggy heather meeting across it. Of this 

 fact the solitary heron is well aware, and his grey form, 

 solemnly flapping across the moor, is characteristic of the 

 month. He is bound for some little burnlet he wots of 

 as a favourite resort of trout ; and at times startles a 

 sportsman by suddenly flapping out from under his 

 very feet from some deep-sided, heather-hidden stream, 

 far outbye, whither neither trout nor heron would ever be 

 suspected of resorting. 



Another bird which seeks the higher ground in 

 November, is the dipper. Usually these little fellows, 

 as well as the herons, prefer rivers and larger burns ; 

 but towards the end of October and during November, 

 both species (and kingfishers also) are found high out on 

 the fells, and it is no unusual occurrence to almost step 

 upon a dipper concealed in one of these overgrown drains 

 on the moor. I have then seen a dipper swimming like 

 a little duck on the open water of a lough on one of the 

 highest fells. 



The dipper's object in seeking the higher land 

 simultaneously with the spawning of trout, has Prima 



