I40 Family Panurid.e. 



stationary in the air for fifteen or twenty seconds (reminding one of the hovering 

 power of the Humming-bird hawk-moth poised in front of a flower) : suddenly it 

 dashed through the rushing and foaming water, and landed on the opposite rock, 

 without a draggled feather ; a good example of the power of this bird ! 



The flight of the Dipper is swift and straight like that of the Kingfisher. 

 Although I believe it sings during the autumn, I was not fortunate enough to hear 

 its song ; nor did I see it pursuing its prey under the water, running freely about 

 upon the bottom and using its wings as oars." 



It is extremely fortunate that Mr. Frohawk should have been able to sketch 

 this bird from life in one of its wild haunts, before the commencement of the 

 present work; it being one of the few British species which he had previously 

 not had an opportunity of studying when at liberty. 



FAMILY PANURID^. 



REPRESENTED in Great Britain by one species only, which has, I think 

 quite incorrectly, been called a Titmouse : in all its actions it resembles 

 the group of Ploceine Finches known to bird-keepers as Wax-bills : it is 

 also very largely a seed-eating species. As Mr. Howard Saunders says: — " In its 

 digestive organs and other points of internal structure, this bird shows no real 

 affinity to the Tits; and some writers have advocated its relationship to the Finches." 

 Seebohm, whilst he speaks somewhat disparagingly of those who do not 

 believe in the Parine relationship of Pamaiis, quotes the fact of two hens in 

 confinement laying forty-nine eggs between the 30th of May and the 2nd of 

 August, a feat such as one might expect from a bird liaving Ploa-inc affinities : 

 he also notes the Bunting-like character of its eggs. 



Lord Lilford says, of examples of this genus : — " Their actions much resemble 

 those of the true Titmice, from which in many other respects, such as internal 

 structure, nesting habits, colouration of eggs, and voice, they differ very widely." 

 In this he is quite right, with one exception: — "I never yet saw adult Titmice go 

 to sleep in a row all huddled together, as the Bearded Reedlings do, and as the 



