27C PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



their beautiful plumage, and their activity whether 

 swimming or on the wing. 



It is very seldom in winter, during any weather, that 

 sport is not to a certain extent marred by these little 

 beauties, more especially by the dippers, for they are 

 such little rogues, thieves, and impudent withal, that 

 whenever they see decoy ducks set out they are bound 

 to visit them. The reason they do so is this : they 

 imagine that the imitation birds are a veritable flock 

 of canvas-backs feeding, and they themselves being 

 indifferent divers, wait upon the surface for the larger 



BALD PATES. 



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 



