CINCLID.E. 31 



A few frequent the Taw. Two were seen in August ISSG on the East 

 Lynn (0. V. A., Zool. 1887, p. 71). 



It is only known on the western side of Dorsetshire, and is scarce in 

 Western Cornwall. 



The Dipper is a common bird by the side of all the small streams in 

 Xorth Devon, and seems to prefer the smaller waters to the large rivers, 

 as we have observed in an extended experience as flj'-fishers. We have 

 heard the Dipper singing in mid-winter when there has been several 

 degrees of frost. One bitter day, when we were on the watch for wild 

 duck, a large block of ice came floating down the stream, on which sat a 

 Dipper singing as if he was in full enjoyment of the weather. Speaking 

 of the song of this bird, Mr. Polwhele says, with much truth, " Its song 

 has a great resemblance to the sound of water gurgling among pebbles," a 

 description which is thus utilized by Carrington, the Dartmoor poet : — 



"With louder rush, 

 And deeper melody, a torrent flows 

 Full in the midst, meandering, as if loth 

 To quit the dale's dear bosom. On his marge 

 I mark the cheerful bird that loves the stream 

 And the stream's voice, and answers in like strains, 

 Murmuring deliciously." 



Wc have seen the Dipper a thousand times, either on a stone in mid- 

 stream, where he will be perched jerking his tail, and from wheace we 

 have often watched him walk deliberately into the water, beneath which 

 he has two methods of progression, either by grasping the stones at the 

 bottom with his feet, or by flying along beneath the surface in much the 

 same manner as the Common Waterhen. We have also seen him when 

 floating down a stream make a sudden dive and disappear, or flying over 

 the water alight on its surface and plunge at once out of sight. The 

 Dipper has been looked u])on with suspicion bj^ anglers, and has been 

 accused by some of eating the precious ova of trout and salmon, and even 

 to this day a price is put upon his head on some of the northern streams ; 

 but this charge may be considered as " not proven : " his ordinary diet 

 is certainly only the larva) of various Phryganeida) and Dytiscidas, and he 

 is thus rather the angler's friend by destroying insects which in their 

 larval state are highly carnivorous and prey upon the ova of fish. 



When the Dipper is on wing he follows every winding of the stream, 

 very rarely making a straight flight by cutting off corners. He is an 

 early bird to nest, and as ho sometimes l)uilds iu a stump projecting over 

 the stream, his nest, as we have frerjuently seen, is apt to be swept away 

 by a flood after a heavy fall of rain. The young Dippers are pretty little 

 6i)eckled creatures, and are not easily caught, as tliey scuttle off into llio 

 water and disa])pear on the appearance of danger. Our kind old friend, 

 tlie late ^Ir. V. ]5(md, rerpiiriiig some, we had one da}' to do a good deal 

 of wadiii;,' in tlio stream before we were able to secure tlu; nestlings in a 

 landing-net. (M. A. M.) 



