AMONG THE BIRDS IN WINTER. 279 



are very restless, and its food in winter appears 

 to consist almost exclusively of berries. The 

 Waxwing breeds in large colonies, but is very 

 erratic in its choice of a locality, a fresh one being 

 selected every year in some district where food 

 chances to be abundant. The Crossbill and the 

 Shore Lark are also our winter guests. The 

 former bird is a resident in this country, and the 

 unusual "rushes" that make their way here belong 

 to the class of gipsy migrants, which only wander 

 southwards when an exceptionally inclement winter 

 forces them to do so. At this season Crossbills 

 are very tame, and climb about the fir trees, aided 

 by their bill and feet, more like Parrots than 

 Finches, calling sweetly to each other all the 

 time. 



Although it is midwinter, the banks of the 

 stream are a chosen haunt of bird life. Where 

 the water boils and foams round the mossy 

 boulders, we are sure to meet with our old friend 

 the Dipper. He is happy enough as long as the 

 stream is open, and keen must be the frost that 

 will stay its rapid waters. He dives into the ice- 

 cold stream, in quest of his insect food, just as 

 heartily as in the spring and summer, his dense 

 plumage being impervious to the wet and cold. 

 The charming little Gray Wagtails are gone ; the 

 Summer Snipe is on the lagoons of Africa ; but 

 the Kingfisher, in his beautiful dress of blue and 

 chestnut, haunts the lower reaches of the stream. 

 He is much less fortunate than the Dipper, and 



