42 OUE NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



act of seizing its food. He adds that its structure 

 is not fitted for walking below the surface, for its 

 short legs and long curved claws are most unsuited 

 to the act of running, though well adapted for 

 effecting a steady footing on the slippery stones 

 which lie under or above the water. The dipper 

 consumes a great quantity of fishes' spawn, parti- 

 cularly of that of the salmon, while the little shell- 

 fish wliicli lie in sucli numbers about tlie stems 

 and foliage of water-plants become its prey, and 

 are easily seized by it, whether floating near the 

 sm-face or lying in winter torpidity. Neither 

 cold nor frost deters this hardy bird from dipping 

 in the stream, into which he will phmge in winter 

 from a Large piece of ice, and from this habit 

 most probably it derives its name. The Germans 

 call it, IVasserscJiwatzer, the Frcncli, Merle dcau, 

 and the Italians, Tot-do del aqua. It is a resident 

 bird in our country, and is not unfrequent in the 

 north and west of England, nor in Scotland, thougli 

 it is seldom seen in the counties near London. 



The plants which grow so luxuriantly in our 

 waters, giving the spots where streams run a 

 great appearance of richness and beauty, are used 

 by this water-blackbird in making its nest. This 



