136 BIRDS OF LOCH AND MOUNTAIN 



certain portion of the stream as their beat and 

 trespassing Dippers are very soon driven off by 

 the rightful owners. 



The Water Ousel is perhaps as early a nester as 

 any bird of the highlands, and early last spring I 

 watched for some time a pair constructing their 



NEST OF WATER OUSEL. 



marvellous dome-shaped nest on the foundation- 

 stone of an old disused bridge, about a foot above 

 the burn. Both birds were busy carrying materials 

 for the nest, and it was a charming sight when 

 they arrived together, the cock singing a few 

 snatches of song to his mate to cheer her on her 

 labours. The morning was very fine, but towards 

 noon heavy snow-clouds came down from the west, 

 and soon a dense snowfall commenced, the flakes 

 being of exceptional size. I wondered what the 



