BIRD-LIFE BY RIVER AND STREAM. 8 1 



than one occasion seen four species at the same 

 time, and all within a few yards of each other. 

 It is perhaps needless to remark that these 

 meadows are also a well-patronised resort of the 

 Meadow Pipit, especially during the non-breeding 

 season, when vast numbers come down from the 

 moorlands to spend their winter in such food- 

 abounding spots. In the higher reaches of the 

 rivers and streams we may occasionally meet with 

 the Dipper. So far as our experience extends 

 we should feel disposed to class the Dipper as a 

 rare bird in Devonshire, and one that, curiously 

 enough, is sometimes met with in most unlikely 

 spots, whilst in places apparently suited to it in 

 every way one can search for it in vain. Judging 

 from a lengthened northern experience of the 

 Dipper and we lived for twenty years amongst 

 streams where it was our constant companion 

 we should assert that the waters, especially on 

 the uplands, are eminently suited to its require- 

 ments. The evidence, however, seems to show 

 that the Dipper was formerly more abundant than 

 it is now (although we cannot trace a single local 

 name for the species, which seems significant). 

 The causes of its present scarcity, speaking 



