^4° British Birds, with their Nests and Eggs. 



over it, from the illustrations and stuffed specimens whicli I had long been 

 acquainted with. Instead of a dumpy and somewhat clumsy looking bird, remind- 

 ing one of a huge fat awkward looking Wren, the Dipper is an extremely alert, 

 active bird ; the usual attitude assumed by the ten or twelve birds which I saw, 

 was as follows : — the head generally held fairly high, on a well-proportioned neck, 

 and plenty of it ; the tail slightly elevated, not at right angles with the body as 

 generally represented, in wren-like fashion, but carried as with most other birds ; 

 the wings generally with the tips held slightly below the tail : altogether the bird 

 had a very trim and brisk appearance. 



One of these birds rose and hovered in front of the waterfall, remaining 

 stationary in the air for fifteen or twenty seconds (reminding one of the hovering 

 power of the Humming-bird hawk-moth poised in front of a flower) : suddenly it 

 dashed through the rushing and foaming water, and landed on the opposite rock, 

 without a draggled feather ; a good example of the power of this bird ! 



The flight of the Dipper is swift and straight like that of the Kingfisher. 

 Although I believe it sings during the autumn, I was not fortunate enough to hear 

 its song ; nor did I see it pursuing its prey under the water, running freely about 

 upon the bottom and using its wings as oars." 



It is extremely fortunate that Mr. Frohawk should have been able to sketch 

 this bird from life in one of its wild haunts, before the commencement of the 

 present work ; it being one of the few British species which he had previously not 

 had an opportunity of studying when at liberty. 



FA^IILY PANURID^. 



REPRESENTED in Great Britain by one species only, which has, I think 

 quite incorrectly, been called a Titmouse: in all its actions it resembles 

 the group of Ploceine Finches known to bird-keepers as Waxbills : it is also very 

 largely a seed-eating species. As Mr. Howard Saunders says :— " In its digestive 

 organs and other points of internal structure, this bird shows no real affinity to 

 the Tits; and some writers have advocated its relationship to the Finches." 



