82 



British Birds. 



interesting bird to watch, as it flies with rapid beats of its wings, much after the 

 manner of a Kingfisher, and settles down on a stone, from which it dehberately 

 walks into the water and disappears beneath the surface, seeking for its food at the 

 bottom of the stream. It is accused of devouring trout-ova, but its principal food 

 consists of caddis-worms, water-beetles and small shells. The nest of the Dipper 

 is a domed structure, with the entrance-hole rather low down, made of moss which 

 assimilates to the surroundings of the rocky-hole or bank in which the nest is 

 placed, and hence it is never easy to find. Inside this dome of moss the real nest is 

 placed, and this consists of grass, slender twigs and leaves, closely compacted 

 together. The eggs are pure white, but without anj' gloss, so that they cannot be 

 mistaken for the eggs of the Kingfisher. 



The Dippers of the Old World are divided into several 

 races, which inhabit certain mountainous areas of the 

 continents of Europe and Asia. Our Common Dipper, for 

 instance, is only found in Great Britain, France and 

 Germany, Holland and Belgium, and in the Alps and the Pyrenees its place is taken 

 by a paler form, Cinclus nlbicoUis. In Scandinavia occurs the Black-bellied Dipper, 

 which differs from our own species in having a chocolate-brown or blackish breast, 

 instead of a rufous one. Occasionally the Scandmavian form appears to cross 

 the sea, ao it has been met with in our eastern counties. In habits as well 

 as in its nest and eggs there is no difference between C. cinclns and C. aqiinticus. 

 I have found the Dipper in Norway nesting by the side of a roaring 

 torrent, and perching on the rocks in the midst of the foam. The close-set 

 plumage of the bird, however, seems to be imperxious to wet, as might be 

 gathered from the way in which it is able to remain under water. The 

 young birds on leaving the nest, keep to the rocks by the side ut the sticam 

 and are assiduously fed by their parents. 

 This tin^• 



THE BLACK-BELLIED 



DIPPER. 



{Cinclus cinclns.} 



THE WREN. 

 (Anorthttra 



tyoglodvtcs.) 



little bird is 

 found all over 

 Great Britain, 

 and is resident with us 

 throughout the \ear, though 

 our eastern coasts are 

 visited by a considerable 

 number of individuals during 

 the autumn migration. It 

 seems curious that such a 

 small bird should brave the 

 North Sea, but it is not 

 more wonderful than is the 



The Bi.ack-Bellied Dum'EK. 



