CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 29 



DIPPEB. 



Case 38. 



There appears to be a difference of opinion among 

 writers concerning the habits of these singular birds ; 

 some declaring that they are prejudicial to the spawn 

 and fry of fish, while others assert that they are not 

 only perfectly harmless, but of the greatest service 

 to the rivers, from constantly feeding on various kinds 

 of destructive beetles and other insects. 



I believe that there is undoubted evidence that they 

 have been both seen and shot while in possession of 

 small fish ; but I am decidedly of opinion that their 

 presence on the waters is beneficial rather than 

 otherwise. 



They are to be found frequenting most of the rivers 

 and streams in the northern parts of the Island, being 

 perhaps more numerous in the rocky burns of Perth- 

 shire than in any other county. 



During hard winters I have occasionally fallen in 

 with these birds on the seacoast, being, I suppose, 

 frozen out from their accustomed streams. 



The specimens in the case were obtained on the river 

 Lyon, in Perthshire, in November, 1865. 



WILLOW WEEN. 



Case 39. 



This small migrant is widely distributed over the 

 British Islands, being particularly numerous even to 

 the north of Scotland, wherever there is sufficient 

 vegetation in the various glens. 



The great similarity between this bird and the Chiff- 



