THE ANGLERS SOUVENIR. 



221 



means of his feet, his wings hanging down behind 

 his tail ; though his motions were so quick, it was 

 difficult to be positive as to the latter part of this 

 observation. At times he swam in mid- water, using 

 his wings, crossing the current several times, and 

 seeming but little incommoded by it. 



" ' All at once he turned over on his back still 

 possessing the power of continuing under water ; 

 struggling to regain his original position, he spun 

 round and round. It appeared as though the 

 wounded wing had suddenly failed him, and thus 

 prevented his preserving a due equilibrium in the 

 water. At length he came to the top, when he 

 immediately righted and swam as at other times. 

 Every time I tried to lay hold of him he again 

 ducked and dived down to the bottom, at first all 

 right, and then the tumbling began again. When 

 captured at length, I found him merely winged. I 

 was enabled to confirm these observations several 

 times that day, as I obtained seven specimens, five 

 of which necessitated a watery chase before I suc- 

 ceeded in catching them, and one got clear off.' " 



Such testimony should settle the matter at last. 

 We hope it will be a very long time ere the dipper 

 is banished from our trout streams, for without it 

 a great part of their charm would be lost to us. 



Every one knows the common water-hen. Where 

 rivers slowly sweep between rushy banks, where 

 the lake bends into quiet bays, and in the small 

 rushy "pits" in fields, even close to houses, the 



