82 BIRD-LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



specially for South Devon, we are unable to suggest. 

 We may, however, remark in passing that a very 

 intelligent bird-catcher, with a thorough know- 

 ledge of all the commoner species, pointed out 

 to us a small stream, little more than a ditch, 

 that was frequented for several years by a pair 

 of Dippers, and that was in the lowlands, and 

 not more than half-a-dozen miles from the coast. 

 He knew the bird well, described its habits and 

 appearance most accurately, yet was unable to say 

 whether it bred in the locality or not. Like the 

 Kingfisher, the Dipper not unfrequently visits the 

 coast, and has been seen amongst the rocks in Tor 

 Bay and other places. 



The luxuriant vegetation which clothes the 

 banks of so many of these Devonshire streams, 

 in some cases almost concealing them, forms an 

 ideal shelter for the retiring Warblers ; and one 

 cannot help coming to the conclusion, whilst 

 taking a rapid survey of these seclusive spots, that 

 species hitherto unknown as regular visitors to the 

 county may lurk amongst them. We have only 

 to point to the nesting of the rare and excessively 

 local Marsh Warbler (local, we fain would think, 

 because it is overlooked) in Somerset, just over the 



