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than through the water. The chase afforded another rare opportunity of viewing its subaqueous 

 flight, which, in all probability, was caused by excessive alarm. It flew about in the pools just 

 as birds would fly in a confined space in the air, but of course with less velocity, and on diving 

 at first seemed covered with small air-bubbles which adhered to its surface." That the Dipper 

 does, however, sometimes dive head first like the Kingfisher appears to be certain; for Mr. A. 

 von Homeyer (J. f. O. 1860, p. 301) describes it from personal observation as so doing — and 

 remarks also that he observed it hover over the water with its legs hanging down, then drop 

 quietly on to the surface and swim about like a Duck. The flight of the Dipper is swift, direct, 

 and powerful, much resembling that of the common Kingfisher. It usually flies at a short 

 distance above the surface of the water, urging itself forward by quick, regular strokes of the 

 wings without intermission, never appearing to sail in the air with extended pinions. 



Mr. E. R. Alston informs me that, according to his experience, the Dipper, " like some 

 water-birds if suddenly disturbed or surprised, will sometimes dive and come again to the surface 

 under the shelter of an overhanging stone, or among weeds, where it will remain hidden with 

 only its head above water ; when wounded I have seen one take to land and conceal itself artfully 

 under loose stones. The dipping or curtseying of this bird is a curious motion, the whole body 

 being moved from the thighs and the tail flirted at the same moment. It would be an interesting 

 question to consider what can have been the original use of this movement, and how it came to 

 be perpetuated." 



The Dipper has been subjected to no little persecution, owing to the mistaken idea that it 

 feeds on the spawn of salmon and other fish ; but I need scarcely say that this accusation is 

 utterly unfounded, its food consisting solely of aquatic insects. According to Mr. R. Gray it 

 was formerly the custom in Scotland to allow any one who shot a Dipper the privilege of fishing 

 during the close season as a reward ; and Mr. Harvie Brown states that to this day a reward of 

 sixpence per head is given for Dippers in some parts of Sutherlandshire. Mr. E. R. Alston, who 

 has carefully examined the stomachs of specimens shot by him in Scotland, informs me that 

 " they invariably contained aquatic insects and larvae, and sometimes freshwater shrimps 

 (Gammarus pulex);" and Mr. Robert Gray says that instead of doing harm by destroying the 

 spawn of fish, they act as the angler's best friend by devouring immense quantities of the larvae 

 of dragonflies and water-beetles, creatures which are known to live to a great extent on spawn 

 and even the newly-hatched fry of both trout and salmon. 



Mr. Gould examined by dissection five specimens sent to him from Penoyre, on the Usk, 

 where they were said to be feeding on the recently deposited roe of the trout and salmon, and 

 writes (B. of G. B. pt. i.) that he " found no trace whatever of spawn in either of them. Their 

 hard gizzards were entirely filled with larvee of Phryganece and the water-beetle (Hydropkilus). 

 One of them had a small bull-head (Coitus gobia) in its throat, which the bird had doubtless 

 taken from under a stone." 



The song of the Dipper is pleasing, and may be heard at all seasons of the year, even in the 

 winter. Mr. Robert Gray writes that " once about dusk, when rambling along the margin of 

 the Clyde, near Lanark, after the breaking up of a long-enduring frost, I was delighted to hear 

 the familiar voice of a Dipper close at hand, and, on looking round, to find the ' sweet singer ' 

 perched on a floating block of ice which was somewhat swiftly sailing with the current of the 



