34 BRITISH NESTING BIRDS 



above; white tips on wing-coverts, forming two narrow bars; 

 quill black; throat and stripe under the eye white; neck and 

 breast buff with streaks of dark brown. 

 Length. — Seventeen inches. 



DIPPER (Cinclus aquations) 



Local Names. — Benny Ducker, Brook Ousel, Common Dipper. Eso 

 Cock, European Dipper Duck, Piet, River Pie, Sand Thrush, 

 Water Blackbird. Water Colly, Water Crake, Water Crow, 

 Water Ouzel, Water Pyet, Water Smith, Water Thrush. 



Haunt. — Rivers and streams, secluded burns in Scotland. 



Nesting Period. — April to June. 



Site of Nest. — In the fissure of a rock or overhanging bank, or 

 between the stones of a bridge. 



Materials Used. — A domed structure with a hole towards the base, 

 consisting of moss outside and leaves within. The vegetation 

 surrounding the nest makes the latter difficult to observe. 



Eggs. — Five. White, pointed; size, i.o by .75 inch. 



Food. — Aquatic insects and their larvae, also small fresh-water 

 snails and the fry of fishes. 



Voice. — A pretty utterance, which has been aptly described as " a 

 merry little song coming out of a jocund little heart." 



Chief Features. — Hudson calls this bird " a big black Wren with a 

 silvery-white bib." The flight reminds one of the Kingfisher. 

 The bird dives into the water, and often procures its food from 

 the bed of the stream. It loves solitude, and its song, when 

 heard for the first time, is very striking. 



Plumage. — White throat and belly, the other parts black or blackish- 

 brown. The colours of the female are more dingy than those 

 of her mate. Length. — Six and a half inches. 



DIVER, BLACK-THROATED (Colymbus arcticus) 

 Local Names. — Lesser Imber (female), Lumme, Northern Doucker, 



Speckled Loon. 

 Haunt. — Excepting when breeding, the Divers are Oceanic birds. 



Frequents lochs, small islands, mountain waters, and seashore. 

 Nesting Period. — May and June. 



Site of Nest. — Near or on small islands, and other places. 

 Materials Used. — Various aquatic herbage, with a lining of grass. 

 Eggs. — Two. A handsome type of egg, rounded at both ends, not 



tapered like that of the Common Curlew. Some are dark 



brown tinged with olive, others are russet-brown, spotted or 



blotched with black and dark brown. 



