Pee ae 
outburst from a little heart, thankful that in the midst of that cold scene it was ever able to 
live and be warm. It sang on quite regardless of its danger, until some rapids were 
approached, when, seeing its change of position, it sprang from its perch, and flew up the 
stream, to rest for the coming day. 
In early March—unless a late season—when the days begin to get bright, and the 
evenings are clear and still, except for the melody of the first spring songsters, it will commence 
its nest. Then it seems regardless of man as it chases its mate with the same sharp cries up and 
down and round the stream. Then, too, when the early rays of the morning sun are dancing 
on the ripples, it sings close to man’s abode. At some old-fashioned mills I know, the 
inmates delight in this, as it sits outside, on some old wooden post green with moss, and 
warbles a subdued love ditty. But the old birds are most cautious in building their nest, 
swiftly flyimg to the chosen site, and, if observed, in the same moment doubling round and 
away with the unused material. What a home, too, it is when finished ; defying the water that 
splashes on it, and the eyes that would find it amid its like surroundings! What firmness, 
too, either parent will show in keeping to its eggs when once it has been discovered on the 
nest, and even after it has been actually handled on it. 
When the young first come out with the may-blossom, and float and play and dive in the 
water, one can also see them taught to fly. This an old bird will do, sitting for once in a way 
on a low stout branch, and flying from it a little distance with the small pupils behind. About 
this time, too, another unusual sight may be seen. The young birds will settle on the top 
branches of such a tree as a swaying birch, to glory in the strength of their curved claws. 
They soon equal the parent birds in all they do, and then leave the old home, and work their 
own way in the world, whilst in the same nest the old birds will rear another, or, rarely, even 
two more broods. 
As has been shown, the bird has every claim for protection. ‘he boon it confers on 
anglers is undoubted. One of the greatest points in favour of this is from the works of the 
late Mr. Francis Day, author of “The Fishes of Great Britain and Ireland.’ He showed 
that the above-named food of the Dipper is also the worst enemy to salmon and trout, but 
he found only one instance of the bird, out of the hundreds he examined, having eaten the 
egos of a trout, and in this instance the bird may have been driven by hunger to feed on the 
fish spawn. 
In other ways, too, no bird rewards its protectors more. Its real attraction is the bed of 
a stream; whether it be like that described, or one on barren moors, or in the low-lying vale 
of a southern county. In the latter I have found the birds living close to a farm meadow 
with nought for them except water madly rushing over a broken stone dam, the greater 
water-moss, and their food. But the farmer, and especially his boy, have watched and cared 
for it and have protected its nest. They have seen its annual two broods brought up, they 
have delighted in most of the sights described and in the song, and the old birds stay on to 
reward them. This shows how the Dipper may spread if properly protected. The race is 
truly English in courage and thoroughness, as also in its love of the water and affection for 
its young brood. Our attachment through years and generations to the same home is theirs 
also, and the birds, if protected, will enable many persons in the future to say what one person 
I know has said: that he can vouch for a pair of Dippers having nested in the very same spot 
every year for half a century, and he does so with gratitude. 
Educational Series.—No. 1.—OWLS. No. 2.—WOODPECKERS. No. 3.—STARLING. No. 4.— 
SWALLOWS. No. 5.—KINGFISHER. No. 6.—OSPREY. No. 7.—DIPPERS. No. 8.—NIGHTJAR. 
No. 9.—TITMICE. No. 10.—KESTREL. No. 114.—PLOVERS. 
Others in course of preparation. 
Copies of the above may be obtained from the Society’s Publishing Department, Knowledge Otfice, 
326, High Holborn, W.C., or from the Hon. Sec., Mrs. F. E. Lemon, Hillcrest, Redhill, on the following 
terms :—Post free: three copies of any one number of the Series, 1d.; one dozen, 3d.; 100, 1s. 6d. 
Assorted packets, one copy of any six numbers, 2d.; one copy of any twelve, or two copies of any six 
numbers, 4d; or 50 assorted numbers, 1s. Special terms for larger quantities, and to County Councils, the 
Constabulary, and Schools. 
The Society’s Publishing Office, Knowledge, 326, High Holborn, London, W.C. 1896. 
