﻿The Dipper in Colorado 



ii 



used. I have found nests deserted where the inside nest was saturated with 

 splashing water, so there can be too much water, even for a Dipper. 



The young birds, when apparently about half the size of the old ones, 

 drop into the running water and prove to be good swimmers, as they play 

 about, dive and appear to be in their proper element. I have seen as many as 

 six at one time and have known as few as three eggs to comprise the set. 



Dippers are not generally known as song-birds, as they are usually found 

 where the water makes so much noise that their song can not be heard ; but 

 if one goes near the nest and remains long enough for both birds to become 

 greatly disturbed, the male bird will sing a song entirely different from any 

 bird song I have ever heard. 



This little bird appears to be especially persecuted by fishermen, though 

 no bird is more deserving of their protection. Their food is insects that 

 adhere to the gravel where the trout do their spawning, as well as other 

 water life, but I have never heard that they disturb the spawn or young fry. 

 They sometimes remain on mountain streams till they are entirely frozen 

 over. When they decide to migrate they fly in circles until high enough to 

 clear the mountains and then start boldly for warmer regions, and are not 

 again seen on that stream for the winter. They do not seem to mind cold 

 weather as long as the streams remain open, as I have seen them in January 

 where the water from a mining tunnel kept the creek clear of ice. 



MEADOW-LARK AND EGGS. BARTRAM'S SANDPIPER AND EGGS 

 Illustrating the difference in the size of the eggs of birds of the same size, in relation to the condition of the 

 young at birth. The young Meadow-larks are born practically naked and are reared in the nest; the young 

 Sandpipers are born feathered and leave ihe nest soon after hatching. 



