Dii'PKi?. 245 



or eight inches deep, and ten or twelve inches across, composed 

 of various species of mosses, chiefly of the genus Hypniim, 

 finely felted, so as to form a mass not easily torn asunder, 

 especially in its lower part. In front is a hole, just admitting 

 the passage of the bird, and opening upon the nest itself, which 

 is cup-shaped, from five to six inches in diameter, built of 



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i. 



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grass-stems and lined with dead leaves. Placed in a recess 

 by the side of a stream or under a j)rojecting stone, forming 

 part of a cascade, and behind the sheet of falling water, the 

 structure, large as it is, so much resembles a moss-covered 

 rock, that it may easily escape observation. The Dipper breeds 

 early in the season. The eggs are five or six in number, 

 measuring from 1*05 to '97 by from '75 to '72 in., somewhat 

 pointed at the smaller end, and of a pure, but not glossy, 

 white. 



Macgillivray, who examined the contents of the stomach 

 in these birds on various occasions, found only beetles and 

 the animals of freshwater- shells belonging to the genera Lim- 

 ncea and Ancylus. Caddis-worms — the larvae of PhryganecB, 

 besides those of various Lihellnhe — dragon-flies, Ephcmene 

 — may-flies, and Hydroiihili — water-beetles, have also been 

 mentioned, and these are known to be among the aquatic in- 

 sects most destructive to fish-spawn. Yet in some places, 

 particularly in Scotland, where this bird is known as the 



