THE DIPPER 51 
juniper. The male took no part in the work, but regaled his busy 
partner by singing to her all day long. At one period of the day she 
brought in bundles of leaves four, five, and even six times in the 
space of ten minutes. At other times, when greater care was needed 
in the selection of materials, she was sometimes absent for eight or 
ten minutes, but such was her industry that at seven o’clock the 
whole of the external workmanship was finished, the materials 
being dry leaves, felted together with moss. On the following day 
both birds joined in the work, beginning as early as half-past three 
o’clock in the morning, the materials being now moss and a few 
feathers. Sothe work proceeded, day after day, until the eighth of 
June, when the structure was completed, being a compact ball of 
dried leaves felted with moss and thickly lined with finer moss and 
feathers, domed over and having a small circular opening on one 
side. Dried leaves form the exterior of most Wrens’ nests, unless 
they are placed in situations where such an appearance would attract 
the attention of a passer-by. Ona mossy bank, the outside would 
probably consist of moss ; under the root of a tree, of twigs; ina 
hay-stack, of hay, and so on, the bird being guided by its instinct 
to select the least conspicuous material. The number of eggs laid 
is usually six, but as many as fifteen or sixteen have been observed. 
Any one residing in the country, who has given his attention to 
birds’ nests, must have remarked what a large proportion of the 
Wrens’ nests which he has discovered are in an unfinished state and 
contain no eggs. These are called ‘cock’ nests. In winter wrens 
resort in numbers to old nests and to holes in walls for mutual 
warmth and shelter. 
FAMILY CINCLID 
THE) DIPPER 
CINCLUS AQUATICUS 
Upper plumage dark brown, tinged with ash; throat and breast pure white ; 
abdomen brownish red; bill blackish; feet horn-colour. Female— 
colours nearly the same, but ofa dingy hue. Lengthseven inches. Eggs 
pure white. 
Any one who has wandered by the mountain rivers of Scotland, 
North Wales, or Derbyshire, can have scarcely failed to notice a 
bird, somewhat less than a Blackbird, black above, with white 
throat and breast, dart with rapid and direct flight from a low 
rock on the river’s bank, and alight on a wet mossy stone rising 
but a few inches above the water, where the stream runs swiftest 
and the spray sparkles brightest. But for the roar of the torrent 
