40 OUR NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



Strange stories were formerly narrated of this 

 dipper; telling how, in violation of all tlic laws 

 of gravity, which ordain that things lighter than 

 the water shall float to its surface, this bird has 

 been enabled to sink beneath it and walk for a 

 long space upon the ground. But this fable has 

 had to yield to more accurate observation, and the 

 lover of the marvellous must content himself now 

 with knowing tliat the dijipor can plunge suddenly 

 into the deptli, rise again at some distance from 

 the spot, plunge in again right merrily, and sink- 

 ing and emerging, again and again, seem no way 

 ruffled in S])irits or plumage by the performance. 

 He generally commences his diving from a rock 

 slanting a little way from the surface, either 

 placed in the stream or at its side, and having 

 first looked eagerly into the blue beneath him, 

 he boldly seeks the deptli, and pursues his pre}' 

 where our eye cannot follow the movement. 

 Even the half-fledged nestlings will, if alanned, 

 take to the water, as to their proper element, and 

 learn to dive before they can learn to fly. Their 

 food lies in the rivers and streams, and the larva 

 of many an aquatic insect, Avliich lies there await- 

 ing till Time shall have gifted it with gauzy and 



