EUROPEAN DIPPER. 57 



to catch it, on which it sallied forth, plunged into a pool, and 

 attempted to escape down the stream, but without success, for 

 we met it at every turn, and it was obliged to betake itself 

 again to its retreat. We now turned off the water from the 

 stone, when it again plunged into the pool, and after some 

 turnings, at length effected its escape. On emerging at some 

 distance it flew off, and I considered it strange that it had not 

 used its wings at first, as it certainly could more easily have 

 escaped through the air than through the water. The chase 

 afforded another rare opportunity of viewing its subaqueous 

 flight, which, in all probability, was caused by excessive alarm. 

 It flew about in the pool, just as a bird would fly in a con- 

 fined space in the air, but of course with less velocity, and on 

 diving at first seemed covered with small air-bubbles which ad- 

 hered to its surface. 



On being wounded the Dipper commonly plunges into the 

 water, flies beneath its surface to the shore, and conceals itself 

 amoncf the stones or under the bank. In fact, on all such oc- 

 casions, if enough of life remains, it is sure to hide itself, so 

 that one requires to look sharply after it. In this respect it 

 greatly resembles the Common Gallinule or Water-hen. In 

 the winter of 1829, I shot one on the Almond, which flew to 

 the other side, walked deliberately out into the water, disap- 

 peared, and slowly emerged under a bank at some distance, 

 where I found it after wading through the stream, which was 

 partially frozen. Another had just strength sufficient to fly 

 into a deep hole under a bridge on the Yarrow, partially filled 

 with water, on which it was found floating dead. In August 

 1884, I shot a Dipper on Man nor Water, in Tweeddale, when 

 it flew off, dived, and hid itself under a bank, on which I 

 forded the stream and endeavoured to secure it, but it slipped 

 out under water, swam down the current twenty yards or so, 

 and got under a large stone, where it was traced. The intro- 

 duction of the gun-rod only caused the persecuted bird to re- 

 treat as far as it could, and while I was employed in removing 

 some pebbles and gravel from behind the stone, it slipped out 

 under water, and proceeded down the stream a considerable 

 way before it rose to breathe. I noticed the place where it 



