BY LAKES AND STREAMS. 127 



tion to insects, he will also eat worms and grubs, 

 and even small fry. The Dipper breeds early, 

 commencing its nest in a favourable season during 

 the first week in April. Its nest is one of the 

 most beautiful examples of bird architecture known 

 a spherical structure, like that of the Wren, 

 made externally of the greenest moss, and lined 

 with dry grass and leaves. This wondrous nest 

 is wedged in some crevice of the wet rocks, or 

 under the bank of the stream, amongst the ex- 

 posed roots of trees. Here, in many instances, 

 the humidity of the situation preserves the outer 

 portion of the nest from withering, and we might 

 easily pass it by as an unusually fine cluster of 

 greenest moss ! The tell-tale hole at the side, 

 near the top, betrays the secret, however, and by 

 inserting a couple of fingers we may take out the 

 four or five shining white eggs and examine them. 



Upon many of these same streams the KING- widely 

 FISHER (Alcedo ispida) may be met with ; indeed, 

 he is even far more widely dispersed, and has his 

 residence on streams and rivers that are much too 

 sluggish for the Dipper. He frequents the drains 

 and sluices, too, and even the lakes and pools. I 

 have also known him to take up his quarters near 

 the smallest of ponds in private grounds, and rear 

 his young beside them. The gorgeous cobalt-blue 

 and green and chestnut of the Kingfisher enable 

 us to recognise him, no matter however fleeting 

 may be our glimpse of him as he glides arrow- 

 like over the water, often uttering his plaintive 

 seep-seep as he goes. I know of few prettier sights 

 than that of a Kingfisher seeking his food. 

 Only the other day I was wandering along the 

 wooded banks of a Surrey streamlet, and I stood 



