NOTES AND QUERIES. 3L5 



by a flood last year before the young were flown, a thing which perhaps 

 not unfrequently happens in wet seasons. About a mile down the river 

 from these is a third bridge, where a nest was for many years constructed 

 on the point of the buttress, partly concealed by grass and overhanging 

 ferns, and about seven feet above the water. This nesting-place has been 

 deserted, because the nest was invariably discovered by idlers leaning over 

 the parapet (the bridge being near a village), and destroyed by dropping 

 stones on it. There is another bridge about two miles below this, which is 

 also frequented by a pair of Dippers. Here, however, the stonework being 

 very perfect and devoid of crevices, does not offer any place where a 

 Dipper's nest could possibly be fastened. Consequently this pair of birds 

 are compelled to place their nest in the most extraordinary situations, and 

 are, as far as I know, unique in their nesting habits. Under the middle 

 arch of the bridge there is a stout post driven into the river bed, standing 

 about three feet above the water. On top of this the nest was placed, 

 being partly supported by a piece of paling-wire, which was lapped round 

 the post, fastening to it a wooden rail, which was suspended by chains 

 across the arch for the purpose of preventing cattle passing under the 

 bridge. This nesting-place was resorted to for several years, a new nest 

 being always constructed on the ruins of the old one, until a mass of 

 materials had been accumulated sufficient to fill a good-sized wheelbarrow. It 

 was visible for a long distance both up and down the river, but if dis- 

 covered would certainly have been mistaken for a tuft of river debris 

 entangled in the top of the post. A few years ago the cross-rail with the 

 paling-wire, nest and all, were carried away in the winter floods by an alder 

 tree which was swept down the river, and remained entangled in the post 

 for a long time, until again swept away by a subsequent flood. Nothing 

 now remains but the upright post, which is no longer able to support a 

 nest. Last year, although the Dippers were constantly about the bridge, 

 the nest was not discovered, and I am of opinion that they did not breed 

 at all, for want of an available nesting-place. This year, however, I have 

 again discovered their nest, and its position is, if possible, more curious 

 than ever. On the lower side of the bridge, between two of the arches, 

 there grows — partly out of the masonry of the bridge and partly on the 

 stones in the bed of the river — a tussock of rushes, water-parsnip, and 

 other weeds. In the centre of this the birds have constructed their nest. 

 It is practically on the ground in the bed of the river, built in the tuft of 

 weeds, just as a Willow Warbler's nest is built in a tuft of moss or grass. 

 Viewed from the bank, or from over the parapet of the bridge, it looks 

 just like a sod in the middle of the tuft. The current of the river dashes, 

 rapid and fcaming, through the arches on either side, and the nest — which 

 is little more than a foot above the water — is constantly wet with the 

 spray. When discovered, on April 11th, it was just completed, and ready 



