58 CINCLUS EUROP^US. 



dived in under the bank, and it being at length obliged to 

 come up to respire, I met the bird with my hand, and so se- 

 cured it. 



When wounded and caught, it struggles hard, grasping 

 firmly with the feet, but does not attempt to bite. I mention 

 this circumstance as common to certain species of birds, such 

 as the Fieldfare, Blackbird, and Starling, which, without pos- 

 sessing the power of annoying their enemy, yet do not tamely 

 suffer themselves to be destroyed, but struggle to the last, un- 

 dismayed and ready to use the slightest chance of escape. Other 

 species, equal in strength, such as the Snipe, the Golden Plover, 

 and the Lapwing, do not struggle so vigorously, but meet 

 their fate in a quiet and apparently stupid manner. Some 

 birds, again, such as the Tits and Warblers, although evident- 

 ly extremely frightened on being seized, watch every oppor- 

 tunity of biting. I need scarcely add that some, as the Kestril 

 and Sparrowhawk, grasp and bite with as much good will as 

 eflPect. 



The most melancholy ornithological exhibition that I re- 

 member to have witnessed, was that of a wounded Dipper, 

 which was shot through the lungs, above Cramond Bridge, 

 near Edinburgh. It stood still, without attempting to fly off, 

 apparently insensible to all external objects, its legs bent, its 

 wings drooping, its head declined. The blood was oozing from 

 its side and gurgling in its windpipe, which the poor bird made 

 ineffectual efforts to clear. At intervals, a convulsive heaving 

 of the chest took place, followed by an effort to vomit ; and in 

 this state the sufferer stood for five minutes until I got over 

 the stream to it, when it expired in my hand. In the agony 

 of death, the pupil became contracted to a mere point, and pre- 

 sently after dilated, when the lower eyelid gradually rose and 

 covered the eye. This is commonly the case in birds, which 

 do not expire with the eyes open, like man and most quad- 

 rupeds. 



The food of the Dipper is said by authors to consist of small 

 fishes, roe, and water-insects. Thus, according to Willughby, 

 " Pisces prsedatur, nee insecta aversatur." Montagu states 

 that he saw an " old bird flying in with a fish in its bill," and 



