DIPPER. 22.9 



in its habit of erecting its tail, in its song, its early breeding, 

 and the appearance, form, and materials of its nest. 



This species is a constant resident in Britain, locally 

 distributed in accordance with its peculiar habits, and chang- 

 ing its quarters as the changes of the seasons may require. 

 " During the severity of winter," says Selby, " it leaves 

 the smaller mountain rivulets, then becoming frequently 

 choked with ice and snow, and resorts to the larger streams 

 which remain open, and afford a plentiful supply of food.''' 



Scotland, Wales, and the north of England are the parts 

 of Britain the most frequented by this species ; it is not, 

 however, entirely confined to these, it has occasionally been 

 met with in quiet places in the southern counties of Eng- 

 land. We have ourselves seen it by the side of the Mole, 

 midway between Cobham and Esher bridge. This bird 

 sat perched upon a lump of dried clay, close by the water 

 side, where we observed it for some minutes ; it was mo- 

 tionless, and in the hope of meeting with it again in this 

 place, where we were not before aware of its being found, we 

 were careful not to disturb it, and consequently did not 

 see it fly. The locality was the best possible for this species, 

 the bank steep and broken, well covered with dark foliage, 

 and very lonely, as it belongs to the preserves of Claremont. 



The nest of the Dipper, according to Montagu, is very 

 large, with only a small opening in the side for ingress and 

 egress. It is composed externally of moss, usually selected, 

 for the purpose of concealment, from the immediate vicinity 

 of the spot, in order to assimilate it with the locality chosen. 

 One described by Montagu, was so well concealed in this 

 manner that the existence of the nest was only detected by 

 the old bird flying in with a fish in its bill. In this nest the 

 young were incapable of flight, although nearly full-feathered, 

 and, on being disturbed, fluttered out, and dropping into the 

 water, instantly vanished, but in a little time made their ap- 

 pearance some distance down the stream. 



