A MOUNTAIN STREAM 161 



the brilliant white breast makes the bird, which is 

 rather smaller than a Thrush, very conspicuous in 

 certain situations, it conceals it in others, being so 

 like white foam. 



The Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) is said to be related 

 to the Wrens, but it has found a vacant niche in 

 streams and has learned to walk and to fly under 

 water. It suddenly disappears under the surface and 

 may be seen clinging with its toes to the stones and 

 working its way upstream, beating with its short 

 wings. The head is bent downwards, exploring the 

 bed of the stream for water animals such as insect 

 larvae, small Crustaceans and Molluscs, and very rarely 

 a young fish. As Dippers destroy little creatures that 

 devour fish eggs and fish fry, they are on the angler's 

 side, and it should be sacrilege to kill one. The nest 

 is built under a bridge, at the mouth of a culvert, 

 sometimes under a waterfall, and in similar places; it 

 is glued on to the support and consists in many cases 

 of two distinct parts an interior made of dry grasses 

 and leaves, and an outer envelope of felted moss, 

 which keeps the wet out. The four to six eggs are 

 pure white, but without the gloss of the Kingfisher's. 

 The cock-bird courts his mate with great zest, and 

 there is often a good deal of difference of opinion 

 between them. He sings a short wrenlike song, but 

 this is not confined to the courting time; it is a 

 pleasant sound in winter, which the Dipper meets with 

 cheerfulness. The young birds are able to swim right 

 away, but they do not seem to take to the water 

 instinctively. It requires a tumble or a push into the 

 stream to awaken the inherited capacity. After they 

 are able to fend for themselves they seek out a stretch 



ii 



