THE SINGING BIRDS. 22J 



the guise of a friend or foe, nor is it less fearful of the attacks of the numerous birds of prey that 

 dwell around and within its rocky haunts. We learn from Homeyer, who has observed these Ouzels 

 very extensively, that their dislike to man, above alluded to, is sometimes laid aside, and that they 

 have not only been known to allow the approach of a stranger, but have even ventured to approach 

 mill-streams, and, in some instances, cultivated quite a close acquaintance with the miller and his 

 family. The same writer also mentions that a pair of these birds made their appearance in Baden- 

 Baden, and much astonished the visitors at one of the largest hotels, by commencing their diving 

 and bathing operations immediately in front of the house. Even towards birds of its own kind, 

 the Water Ouzel is extremely unsocial ; only during the period of incubation does it tolerate the 

 society of its mates ; at other times it lives alone, driving off any of its neighbours that unwarily 

 intrude within the precincts of its little domain with a violence well calculated to prevent a renewal 

 of the offence, as the following extract will show : — 



"A gentleman," says a correspondent of the Field newspaper, "was walking along the bank 

 of a little stream in Pembrokeshire, when he saw a Dipper, shooting along with its usual arrowy 

 flight, divert itself from its course, and, dashing against a Redbreast that was sitting quietly on a twig 

 overhanging the stream, knock it fairly into the water. The savage little bird was not content with 

 this assault, but continued to attack the poor Redbreast as it lay fluttering on the waves, endeavouring 

 to force it below the surface. It twice drove its victim under water, and would have killed it, had 

 it not been scared away by the shouts and gestures of the witness. The Robin at length succeeded 

 in scrambling to the bank, and got away in safety." So strong is this dislike to companionship, that 

 even the young are sent forth to provide for themselves at such a tender age as would appear to 

 render it impossible for them to obtain their own livelihood. 



The song of the male Dipper may be best described as a lively chatter, consisting of a variety 

 of light tones uttered with different degrees of souad and expression, and is to be heard not only 

 in the spring, but during the utmost severity of the winter. " Those," says Schinz, " who have 

 listened to their cheerful voices on a bleak January morning, when every object in the landscape 

 seemed frozen or dead, or watched the gay little singers as, in the very joyousness of their heart, 

 they sprung through a hole into the ice-bound stream, to take their usual copious bath, would be 

 inclined to believe that they are actually insensible to the chilling breath of the frost and the icy 

 nature of the scene around them." Insects of all kinds constitute their principal means of existence. 

 Gloger tells us that during the winter they also frequently eat mussels and small fish, and that 

 this diet imparts a fishy flavour to their flesh. Should the season be unusually severe, they are 

 sometimes compelled to venture forth and snatch a meal from the most unlikely places ; thus we were 

 informed by a miller in our neighbourhood that his mill was repeatedly visited during a heavy frost 

 by a pair of these birds, they being attracted by the hope of obtaining a portion of the oil with 

 which the mill-wheels were greased, and so overcome with hunger were the poor creatures that they 

 swallowed the grease boldly, even when one of the men stood close to the spot. 



The period of incubation commences in April, one brood and occasionally two being produced 

 within the year. The nest is constructed close to the surface of the water, and, if possible, in such a 

 situation as to permit the stream to flow past it, and thus afford protection against the attacks of 

 martens, weasels, cats, and such-like enemies; it is usually placed upon projecting stones or rocks, 

 or in holes in bridges or mill-dams, and similar situations. In an instance that came under our 

 own notice, it was built in the wheel of a mill that had for a time stopped work. All our 

 endeavours to obtain a sight of the nest last mentioned would have been useless, had not the friendly 

 miller drawn off the water, and thus permitted us to satisfy our curiosity. The cavity, or nook 

 selected for the reception of the brood is lined with a thick bed of twigs, grass, straw, jnd moss. 



