eral 
2. Tur Buack-settiep Diprer.—This form takes the place of the other in the East of 
England, but only as a winter visitor from Scandinavia and North Russia. There it has its 
home and leads a hardy life. 
IV. Food. 
An insect diet, such as spiders, water beetles, and caddis worms. The birds, too, eat. 
small molluses and “ bullheads.” 
V. Characteristics. 
The Dippers only live by such a river or brook that sings— 
““T chatter over stony ways, in little sharps and trebles ; 
I bubble into eddying bays, I babble on the pebbles ;” 
and in their shyness they are as restless. Their nest is domed, about a foot high, not so 
broad, and made of moss—such as the greater water moss, which grows on the beds of 
streams. Sometimes this is mixed with hay, but it is always very closely matted together, 
about three inches thick at the top and less at the sides, with a little mattress of hay and 
leaves for the eggs. It is tucked intoa shallow hole in the rocks, or under the roots of a tree,. 
or behind a waterfall, and the entrance is low down on the side. The eggs are white but not 
ologsy. 
reo) a 
VI. Protection. 
Wild Birds Protection Act, 1880.—This bird does not appear in the Schedule, but has 
been added to it in the following counties :— 
Eneitanp—Lancaster. 
Wates—Pembroke. 
Scortanp—Berwick; Dumfries; Elgin; Kirkcudbright; Wigtown. 
Any owner, occupier, or other person taking, killing, etc., a Dipper during close season,* 
in the above-named counties, is liable to a penalty of £1 for each bird. In all other places 
the Dipper is protected during close time except as against owners and occupiers of land, the 
maximum fine for each bird being 5s. 
Wild Birds Protection Act, 1894.—The eggs are protected in the following counties :— 
Enetanp—l. Northern.—Cumberland ; Durham; Westmoreland ; and the breeding 
areas in Northumberland ; York, East Riding. II. Midland.—Breeding areas in 
Cambridge; Chester; Norfolk; Lincoln; East Suffolk. III. Southern.—Devon and the 
breeding areas in Essex; Kent; Isle of Wight. 
Scornanp—Berwick ; Dumfries; Elgin; Kirkcudbright ; Wigtown. 
IreLanp—Roscommon. 
Any owner, occupier, or other person taking or destroying a Dipper’s egg in any of these 
places is lable to a penalty of £1 for each egg. 
Wild Birds Protection Act, 1896.—In addition to any penalty under the Act of 1880, 
the Court may now order any trap, net, snare, etc., used by the offender to be forfeited. 
VII. Remarks. 
The world would think that a little bird such as this, with its quiet look of innocence, 
lonely unambitious habits, and sombre plumage, would certainly have escaped persecution. 
However, fortune has not created the bird an exception, for its share of persecution has been 
meted out, and that by anglers. Everywhere, from the Highlands—where the Dipper is also 
known as the “ Kingfisher” —southward, it has been accused, and in uncounted numbers it has 
been destroyed. The belief has been that it fed on the eggs and tiny young of salmon and trout. 
But 250 years ago, Isaac Walton was right when he omitted its name from his accurate list 
of the enemies to those fish. Other anglers who lived about his time might have thought 
differently of its claim to innocence ; yet, if so, as much poets as anglers in bygone days of 
peace, they doubtless said with him that they “loved to kill nothing but fish.” The crusade 
* Generally from 1st March to 31st July—but in some counties from 1st February to 31st August in 
each year. A further period may be obtained through the Act of 1896. 
