Passeres 



41 



The nest is a big round ball of moss, or moss and grass, 

 lined with leaves, generally of the oak or beech, and 

 has a side entrance ; it is built in a hole in a wall or 

 bank, among protruding tree-roots on river sides or 

 not uncommonly beneath a bridge or close to a water- 

 wheel ; in many cases it is stuck against a rock or large 





Dipper's nest 



boulder with the sUghtest possible support. The five 

 or six somewhat pointed white eggs are laid from March 

 onwards, and a third set has even been known to have 

 been deposited in the same nest. The fledghngs swim 

 at once. 



