Dipper. INSESSORES. CINCLUS. 173 



ner of their occasionally entering the water as above stated. 

 On the contrary, the same exertion seems to be used by 

 them as by other diving birds, an idea also entertained by 

 Montagu, to whose pleasing description of the habits of this 

 species I refer my readers.* I have had an opportunity of 

 bestowing attention on the manners of these birds, a pair 

 having, for some years, built in a mass of rock rising from a 

 rivulet at a very short distance from my residence. They 

 are very early breeders, and their first family is, in general, 

 fully fledged in the beginning of May. The young quit 

 the nest before they are able to fly to any considerable dis- 

 tance : indeed, upon being disturbed, although but half 

 fledged, they immediately leave it, diving with great ease the 

 moment they reach the water, which the parent birds con- 

 trive shall be effected with expedition, as they most com- 

 monly build their large mossy nest in such part of the rock 

 as directly overhangs the stream. 



The situation of their nest is readily discovered, when oc- Nest, &c. 

 cupied by the young birds, from their incessant chirping. 

 It is similar in shape to that of the Wren, composed exter- 

 nally of moss, and lined with the decayed leaves of oak and 

 other trees. The eggs are four or five in number, of a 

 transparent white. When perched, this bird uses a constant 

 dipping motion, at the same time flirting its tail, which is 

 carried rather erect, in the same manner as that of the Wren. 

 Water insects and the fry and spawn of fish form its food. Food. 

 Its song is variable, and it begins to utter its strong and dis- 

 tinct notes very early in the spring, and is the first warbler 

 that cheers a visitor to the lonely and romantic situations it 

 usually frequents. It is rather generally diff'used throughout 

 Europe, inhabiting similar localities to those in Britain. 

 During the severity of winter it leaves the smaller mountain 

 rivulets (then becoming frequently choked with ice and 

 snow), and resorts to the larger streams which remain open, 



" See Mont. Ornith. Diet. Supplement, and Appendix to Supplement. 



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