PERCHING BIRDS. 51 



and a boy who sometimes brought me eggs, described a 

 bird which he had seen in the stream, which (as I never 

 expected to meet with the dipper) I tried in vain to 

 make out, and felt sure he must be mistaken. Further 

 research, however, cleared up my difficulties, and the 

 sight one summer's evening of a veritable dipper dis- 

 porting itself in the water settled the matter, much to 

 my satisfaction. I must add that I have never been 

 fortunate enough to meet with it again, though they 

 have been seen once or twice by others. I have in vain 

 sought for the nest, and from what I have read of its 

 usual haunts we have few suitable spots for its erection ; 

 but the stretch of stream in which it was seen is very 

 solitary, the channel being confined on one side with 

 high sandstone banks covered with furze, while numerous 

 plantations and ash-holts border the other, the whole 

 bearing the name of New England. 



Quiet inoffensive bird as the dipper is, yet it has been 

 lately accused of feeding on the eggs of the salmon and 

 trout. I believe this charge, like some which are 

 brought against others of our feathered friends, cannot 

 be substantiated, but is nothing more than a hasty con- 

 clusion. The dipper doubtless frequents the streams 

 where salmon and trout spawn, but it is to feed upon 

 one of the worst enemies of salmon ova the larva of 

 the Mayfly, as well as water-beetles and molluscs. Let 

 those who believe in the poor little dipper's crime, open 

 the stomach of the next they kill, and I am much 

 mistaken if they will not coincide with me in a verdict 

 of " not guilty." 



The Missel Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) is very 

 common, and in the winter frequents the forest and 

 parks in large flocks. During this season they fly in a 



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