DECEIVING WILD CREATURES. 23 



rushed breathlessly straight into the nest. This 

 led me to believe that the pert little fellow would 

 fly away on larder work intent directly he re- 

 appeared, but he did nothing so prosaic. Instead 

 of this, he took up his station on a neighbouring 



DIPPERS. 



MALE PASSING FOOD TO FEMALE. 



cobble, where the waters of the brook continually 

 washed over his feet, and warbled a divinely sweet 

 little song in soft, low notes, to his brooding 

 mate sitting in the wee castle of moss perched 

 on the crest of the boulder above him. 



When this serenade ended, he commenced to 



