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_ circumstances, as regularly as spring comes round. We have an 
account in the life of Dr. Heysham, a distinguished local naturalist, 
of his walking ten miles to see a Dipper’s nest; and if I am right 
in fixing the /oca/e,a Dipper breeds annually in the same place yet. 
And it will be at least fifty years ago since Dr. Heysham first saw 
it. Indeed, I can almost imagine the birds building in the same 
situation when Mercatius, the Roman centurion, sixteen hundred 
_ years ago left his name 
“Crag written 
Above the streaming Gelt,”’ 
as near to the inscription Cinclus has yearly built his house for a 
long period. 
| The earliest date in my notes of the finding of the Dipper’s 
nest, is February 27th ; nest completed all but the lining of oak 
leaves. This nest must have been started about the middle of 
February, as from first to last the building occupies about a fort- 
night. This nest was unfortunately washed away by a flood on 
the 9th of March, so I could not follow it through. At different 
_ places, in different years, I have known the nest as follows :— 
— March 17th, four eggs; March 25th, building; March zoth, four 
eggs ; April 6th, young ones, about a week old. This last nest 
_ must have been started about the third week in February—that is 
allowing a week for the age of the young ones, two weeks for 
incubation, one for egg laying, and two for building. 
April, however, appears to be their favourite month, as the 
entries in my note books show most nests to have been found 
‘during that month. Sometimes as many as ten in a single day’s 
t 
brood is not fledged till the middle of May. However, the dates 
Ihave given you above, I can guarantee as quite correct. 
The latest date I have noticed for finding these nests is July 
) The eggs are pure white; and I may mention that the full 
‘complement is five ; some writers say six, seven, and even eight; 
; 13 
