i88 BIRD PARADISE 



food, all of whicli in our severe cold weather are 

 virtually closed to them. The grebe is furnished 

 with two local names — dipper and dabchick. 

 They nest far to the north, and I am told the 

 nest is most singular among the many curious 

 nests of birds. One writer says : " Imagine a 

 little floating island of mud anchored securely 

 to a marshy bank. Place in the centre, nearly 

 level with the surface of the water, a handful of 

 grass and leaves and you have the nest of the 

 dabchick. Frequently the water, as it is moved 

 by the wind, sways the nest back and forth and 

 ofttimes the eggs rest in the water. All the same, 

 however, to the grebe. The work of incubation 

 goes on — the little family in due time graduating 

 to the broad freedom of their watery home. Of 

 course they have many enemies and the young 

 are constantly exposed to their ravages, but 

 enough escape of the annual brood to keep the 

 number good." 



There seems to be an extra number of English 

 sparrows spending the winter in our place. I 

 am not sure that the extra number is massed in 

 one flock as has been common heretofore. I see 

 them everywhere in the village and every day 

 on duty apparently with all their might. Their 



