296 BRITISH BIRDS. 



the pair of birds absented themselves from the nest for 

 about twenty minutes, and I noticed that they generally 

 fleAv up stream when they left the nest. 



In mid-stream a piece of turf had fallen, forming a 

 small island, to which the Dippers would resort and 

 burst forth into song. I was fortunate enough to obtain 

 a photograph of the pair of birds together upon this 

 little island. 



Young Dippers can swim and dive before they are 

 fully fledged. Upon one occasion I was about to examine a 

 nest, built beneath a bridge about ten feet above a stream. 

 Before I could place my hand inside the nest, the young 

 birds scrambled out and dived into the water beneath. 

 The water, being very clear, afforded a good view of them. 

 They swam for some distance beneath the surface, using 

 their wings to propel themselves, after the manner of 

 the old ones when in pursuit of prey. Upon reaching 

 the surface one of the young birds swam strongly to a 

 small rock and stood upon it. It was a most entertaining 

 sight to see the young bird perched upon the rock, 

 " bobbing " in approved Dipper style. 



Dippers are very partial to their nesting-sites. I have 

 in mind a nest from which six clutches of eggs were 

 taken by schoolboys in one season. Two broods are often 

 reared in the same nest in one season, a ncAv lining of 

 leaves being the only addition. 



