98 The Alps in Jime. 



of the Black Forest. It builds its nest in the 

 pine branches, but may always be looked out for 

 near chalets or palings at a considerable height, 

 which it ransacks for food ; and an elaborate 

 search for its nest which I made in the chalet 

 was a wild-goose chase into which I find that 

 more distinguished ornithologists have been misled 

 before me. 



If we now stroll out across this beautiful alp 

 to the lake which bounds and waters it, we shall 

 find it alive with birds. Besides the Pipits and 

 the Accentors, there are families of young Ring- 

 ousels and Missel-thrushes, which have evidently 

 been born and brought up near at hand ; Wheat- 

 ears, of our English species, are perched on the 

 big stones that lie about, and in the ancient pines 

 above them you may now and then see a Crossbill 

 or a Redpoll. In the broad stream that issues 

 from the lake you will always see the Dipper, 

 and associated with it is the Grey Wagtail, seem- 

 ingly the only bird of its kind that affects the 

 higher Alps ; for the White Wagtail seems to 

 stay in the valleys even in the summer, and to 

 love the larger streams and the farmyard pool ; 



