184 GOLDEN DAYS 



The advent of the widgeon to tlie lakes 

 during the time of heavy frosts ; the signs 

 which always portend the first great flight 

 of woodcocks to the landes ; likewise 

 the peculiar voice of snipe that marks the 

 coming of the winter gale. Then the 

 conversation turned to topics of the valley, 

 nearer home, touching upon a certain 

 dipper who for many seasons has built 

 above the mill-pool. You'll find her nest 

 (unless the autumn floods have washed it 

 quite away), a great round dome of moss, 

 framed in the w^oodwork beneath the 

 broken mill-hatch. In spring it is a house 

 well set in order, with four white, warm 

 and glossy eggs inside. These birds, 

 beloved by all good fishermen, are only 

 shy and wary of the remainder of mankind 

 The pearl-breasted dipper is, in fact, our 

 patron saint — a pale star that when we 

 go a-fishing flits on ahead, from stone to 

 stone, to guide us to the fat and speckled 

 trout. Always she stays near us, and 

 when we waste our time on likely -looking 

 pools, pillaged by otters overnight, the 

 kindly ousel leaves the river-bed to perch 

 upon the bank ; then, with many dips and 



