286 



PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



and they themselves being indifferent divers, wait upon the 

 surface for the larger species to bring up the much-prized 

 water-celery, when, before the lately-submerged bird has 

 got the water out of his eyes or recovered his breath, the 

 little pilferer has purloined the fruits of his labour. This 

 is no idle fancy ; Audubon vouches for its truth, and I have 

 many times heard it confirmed by persons who spend their 

 lives upon the Chesapeake, supplying Baltimore with wild 

 fowl. A cock dipper, for such is the name the male bird 

 receives, in the parlance of that locality, is truly a beautiful 

 bird, almost rivalling the wood duck in the brilliancy of 

 his plumage. When he raises his handsome crest he is 

 particularly attractive. 



For the table, dippers are superior to teal, and that is 

 paying them no mean compliment ; for who that is an 

 epicure can be ignorant of the delicacy of flavour of the 

 latter ? 



