88 THE BIRDS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



traordinary part of the Dipper's proceedings, to my 

 mind, being the way in which the bird sinks from 

 the surface of the water, without, as almost all other 

 birds which seek their food at the bottom, plunging 

 or " taking a header." The Dipper sinks, if I may 

 say so, horizontally, and, as may naturally be supposed, 

 seems to have a good deal of trouble to keep below. 

 These birds will go down in the most rapid streams 

 and boiling pools below a waterfall, and, emerging 

 with a jerk, fly off to a big stone, set up a short but 

 very sweet song, and resume their subaqueous ex- 

 plorations. All their movements are sudden and 

 rapid; they seem to be always in a hurry, and are 

 eminently in keeping with the character of the 

 streams which they frequent, and to which they add 

 a great attraction. I am sorry to say that some years 

 ago a crusade was instituted in many places against 

 this most pleasant and cheery little bird, on the 

 charge of devouring the ova of the Salmonidae and 

 other fishes. Yarrell (he. sup. cit. p. 246) calls this 

 a mistaken idea. I have examined the stomachs of 

 three or four individuals shot in Inverness-shire and 

 North Wales, and found nothing therein but the 

 remains of various insects and a few small shells. I 

 believe that opinions are still divided on this question, 

 which certainly cannot be very difficult of solution, 

 but for my own part, were I possessed of a salmon 

 and trout stream frequented by these birds, they 

 should, if their inclinations prompted them in that 

 direction, be as welcome to the eggs of the above- 

 named fishes as the Kingfishers now are to the small 

 fry of our Nen. The song of the Dipper, though not 

 very powerful, is very pleasing, and is associated in 



