24 Among the Birds in Northern Shires. 



dive and flutter about the water, but they are adepts 

 at concealing themselves amongst chinks of the rocks 

 or under the moss and herbage growing in the 

 stream. When required for examination, we al- 

 ways found the best way to secure them was with 

 our landing-net. The song of the Dipper declines 

 considerably as spring merges into summer. The 

 cock bird warbles most frequently whilst sitting on 

 some water-encircled stone or rock, but we have 

 known him to perch and sing in the alder-trees 

 growing by the water-side. We always consider 

 him to be in finest voice during March and April 

 a habit fully in keeping with his robust tempera- 

 ment, and one which instantly puts us in mind of a 

 louder and sweeter singer, the Missel-thrush. The 

 Dipper is the one constant avine dweller on the 

 upland streams, consequently we must in fairness 

 regard him as the most characteristic bird of these 

 localities. 



Another and daintier species, however, is almost 

 his equal in this respect, and that is the Gray Wag- 

 tail. This bird is more susceptible to the changing 

 seasons, and at the approach of winter deserts the 

 higher streams altogether, or comes down to the 

 lower and more sheltered reaches of others. The 

 Gray Wagtail is a familiar bird along all our York- 

 shire and Derbyshire streams and rivers. We look 

 for him quite as a matter of course when we reach 



