The Dipper 



The nest, placed in the crevice of a wall, often on the 

 under side of a bridge or between two boulders in the centre 

 of the stream, is a large domed structure of moss and leaves, 

 having an elliptical entrance low down on one side. 



Four to six dull white eggs form the clutch, and two or 

 three broods are reared in the season, the first eggs being 

 laid early in March. Its song is begun in autumn and 

 continues throughout the winter till well on in spring. 



A strictly resident species, this bird may be found in its 

 haunts at all times of the year and is exceedingly common 

 in Scotland, where there are few burns that are not tenanted 

 by two or three pairs. In hard frosty weather, however, 

 when its natural home is frozen and food scarce, it wanders 

 over the country and may at such times be found by tidal 

 ditches on the sea-shore. 



Its flight is rapid and direct, and when on the move it 

 almost invariably follows the course of the stream. 



The adult has the head and neck brownish, rest of the 

 upper parts dark slate grey. Chin, throat and upper breast 

 white, lower breast chestnut, passing into black on the flanks 

 and belly. Bill blackish, legs brown. The young lack the 

 chestnut on the lower parts. Length 7 in. ; wing 3 '6 in. 



THE BEARDED REEDLING 



Panurus biarmicus (Linnaeus) 



Extremely scarce and local in our islands, being confined 



n 1 

 71 



to not more than half-a-dozen localities, this charming little 



