STURNUS CINCLUS. 279 



clear loud song of the mavis, but shorter and more staccato. I 

 sat on the bank of the Eden and listened with great pleasure as 

 its sweet notes rang through the frosty air, wondering if the 

 fabulous Eastern Paradise ever rang to a sweeter strain — and 

 yet, I thought that the hiss of the gander was as dear to 

 ^Nature as the song of the sweetest thrush, or the hallelujah of 

 the divinest harmony. As a proof that others think the same, 

 the Scotsman of 8th January 1883 says : — 



" On the last day of the year, when taking my Sunday afternoon walk, I 

 sat on a stone to rest, close to one of our suburban streams, a water ouzel or 

 dipper settled on an adjacent stone, and, after preening its feathers, com- 

 menced a most pleasing warble, and sang most melodiously for at least a 

 quarter of an hour. He then resumed his search for food in the stream. I 

 watched him with much interest, his body was seldom quite submerged. 

 He was feeding on the larvae of insects and small Crustacea with which the 

 stream abounds." "I visited the same spot this afternoon, January 6th, 

 and there was my little friend again in full joyous song as before. He 

 allowed me to get within 26 yards of him, and I listened to his exquisite 

 warbling from 3.30 till 4.10, when, darkness coming on, I left, much grati- 

 fied with the renewal of our acquaintance." 



"The song has not the mellowness of the blackbird, nor the power of the 

 thrush, but consists of a few sharp staccato notes at intervals, combined 

 with the most varied and pleasing warble ; a few notes like those of the sky- 

 lark when descending. 



" The reason why the song of this bird is so little known is that it 

 always sings close to streams, where its voice is drowned by the sound of 

 running water ; but to lovers of birds it is worth some trouble to listen to 

 its cheerful song. I have heard it as late as August, but was not aware till 

 now that it sings in winter. 



" Birds' songs are rare enough at this season, and it is a sad pity that the 

 little harmless dipper should have an army of keepers as enemies, from a 

 mistaken idea that it destroys salmon ova, while, in reality, it is a friend to 

 the salmon fisher by feeding on the larvae of dysteseus and other creatures 

 which destroy the ova. I therefore plead, through your columns, for our 

 little feathered songster, my warbling little friend, the streamlet-haunting 

 dipper." 



So that, as Tennyson says — 



"Song may possess the atmosphere, 

 And fill the breast with purer breath." 



And, as we listen to the cheerful song of the little dipper in 

 winter by the banks of a lonely stream, may we also say with 

 him, it 



" Moves us to think what kind of bird it is 

 That sings so delicately clear, and make 

 Conjectures of the plumage and the form." 



Then, if the dipper is spared, as Burns makes Bruar water say 

 to the Duke of Athol — 



"Delighted doubly, then, my Lord, 



You'll wander on my banks, 



And listen mony a grateful bird 



Return you tuneful thanks." 



