142 BIRDS OF LOCH AND MOUNTAIN 



As a result of nesting so early, the Ousel some- 

 times has his nest destroyed by the snow, and in one 

 case that came under my observation the unfortunate 

 birds had their home covered with a snow wreath 

 many feet deep, and when this had melted 

 their nest had vanished. The birds will return to 

 the same nesting place year after year, but this 

 particular pair have not returned to the spot 

 since the snow destroyed their nest. 



I have seen a Dipper disappear into the ground 

 when flushed from a stream, the explanation being 

 that, a short distance further up, the stream went 

 under ground and was lost to view, the bird likewise 

 disappearing and following the course of the stream. 



I have found the Water Ousel at the pools of 

 Dee, between Brae Riach and Ben Muich Dhui, at the 

 boundaries of the counties of Inverness and Aberdeen, 

 where even the Grouse were left below and his only 

 companions were the lordly Golden Eagle and the 

 snow-white Ptarmigan. 



Once I found in the month of May a Dipper's 

 nest with half-grown young. On returning to the 

 place some time later, I was very much astonished 

 to find that a Spotted Flycatcher had built her nest 

 on the top of the Dipper's, probably after the latter's 

 brood had left, and had reared her young in this 

 unique situation. 



THE RING OUSEL 



THE Ring Ousel, or Mountain Blackbird, is one 

 of the sweetest songsters of the mountains, and 

 his song, though to a certain extent resembling 

 that of his near relative the Blackbird, has a far 



