A BIRD MISCELLANY 



171 



yet the adult birds would toss themselves over the abyss 

 with reckless abandon, stop themselves without apparent 

 effort in front of their cleft, and thrust the gathered 

 morsels into the little yellow-lined mouths. It was an 

 aerial feat that made our heads dizzy. This pair of 

 birds did not fly up the face of the falls in ascending to 

 the top, as did those at Rainbow Falls, but 

 clambered up the wall of the cliff close 

 to the side of the roaring cataract, 

 aiding themselves with both claws 

 and wings. When gathering food 

 below the falls, they would usually, 

 in going or returning, fly in a grace- 

 ful curve over the heads of their 

 human visitors. 



Although the dipper is not a web- 

 footed bird, and is not classed by the 

 naturalists among the aquatic fowl, 

 but is, indeed, a genuine passerine, 

 yet he can swim quite dexterously 

 on the surface of the water. 

 However, his greatest strength 

 and skill are shown in swimming 

 under water, where he propels him- 

 self with his wings, often to a con- 

 siderable distance, either with or 

 against the current. Sometimes he 



" Three hungry 

 mouths, which 

 were opened wide 

 to receive the food '' , 



-Ousel 



