COMMON DIPPER. 9 



necessary, as the nest and eggs are so similar in most 

 cases to those of the Blackbird, that without a sight 

 of the parent birds it would be next to impossible 

 to classify them with any degree of certainty. Its 

 favourite nesting spot is under the shelter of a pro- 

 jecting rock, or beneath the edge of an embankment, 

 protected by the high heather growing around. Gener- 

 ally the nest is placed on the ground, sometimes in a 

 bush, but never at any height. The nest, like the 

 Blackbird's, has its lining of mud and clay, which 

 again is covered thickly with grass and bents. The 

 outside is very loosely put together. The eggs, four 

 or five in number, are pale greenish-blue, spotted, most 

 thickly at the larger end, with reddish-brown. 



The Ring Ouzel is a handsome bird, very much 

 resembling the Blackbird, but with a white ring on 

 its neck. It usually feeds on insects, slugs and worms, 

 and like its relation the Blackbird, is very fond of 

 fruit. 



COMMON DIPPER. 



CINCLUS AOUATICUS. 



Family PASSERID^E. Sub-family TURBINE. Genus CINCLUS. 

 Water Ouzel Water Crow Brook Ouzel Bessy Ducker. 



This merry little bird, that 



Flits from ledge to ledge, and through the day 

 Sings to the Highland waterfall, 



is well known to those of us who love to spend our 

 summer holiday with a rod by the side of some of our 

 wild northern streams and mountain burns. There 

 he may be seen perched upon a rock in mid-stream, 



