29 



ZOOLOGICAL RECORD FOR CUMBERLAND, 1886 



BY THE 



Rev. H. A. MACPHERSON, M.A., and W. DUCKWORTH. 



A VES. 

 I. — Breeding Birds. 



(i.) Cinclus aquaticus. Dipper. 



In 1886, a pair of Dippers built their nest on one of the lower 

 boughs of a willow tree, overhanging the river Eden, at an elevation 

 of ten or twelve feet. An unpractised eye would certainly have 

 mistaken the bulky nest for an accumulation of wreckage, deposited 

 by the stream in flood. 



In 1885, a pair of Dippers nested in this identical willow, but 

 the nest was then placed upon a different bough from that selected 

 in 1886. 



In 1885, another pair of Dippers selected a similar site for their 

 nest on one of the lower boughs of an oak tree. 



All three nests were found in situ by Mr. W. Duckworth. 



Such a strange divergence from the usual habits of the Dipper is 

 difficult to account for. 



Note. — Mr. Shepherd of Carlisle states, that on a recent occasion 

 he observed a Dipper capture a small fish in the Caldew. The 

 Dipper emerged from the stream, and on reaching shallow water 

 released the captive, which made at once for deep water. After 

 allowing the fish a start, the Dipper darted after it and recaptured 

 it, subsequently releasing and recapturing it alternately, until tired 

 of play ; the fish was then bruised by repeated pecks, and swallowed 

 head foremost, 



