BIRDS. 



557 



shaped bag is formed. Inside of this the true nest — made of wool, vege- 

 table fibres, and the like — is placed. For a needle the beak is used ; this 

 punctures the leaves, draws through the thread, and ties the knots. These 

 birds do not, as is usually stated, sew dead leaves which they may pick 

 up, but the dead leaves sometimes to be seen on the nests were alive when 

 the case was formed, and have since died from the injuries caused by 

 puncturing the holes. 



The dipper, or water-ouzel, is a queer bird ; for among a host of terres- 

 trial relatives, it is an aquatic form. It only occurs in our western terri- 

 tories, in the neighborhood of clear streams. It hunts for its food beneath 

 the water, swimming with its wings beneath the surface. Most interesting 



Fig. 459. — Dipper, or water-ouzel (Cinclus mexicanus). 



of all is its nest of moss, which is always placed near the water ; sometimes 

 so near that the spray keeps it moist. At other times, according to Mr. 

 Stevenson, the bird supplies the moisture in the following manner : " One 

 of the first things that attracted my attention was its manner of diving 

 down into the water and then darting back and perching itself on the 

 summit of its mound-like dwelling, where it would shake the water from 

 its feathers and distribute it over the nest, apparently for the purpose of 

 keeping the moss moist and in a growing condition." This sprinkling- 

 operation was repeated daily, and there seems every reason to believe that 

 the sprinkling was for the purpose of keeping the outer coating of moss 

 alive, and thus save the trouble of any repairs. 



The wrens are familiar little busybodies, which need no introduction 



