68 ornithologist's text-book. 



same brood in the autumn ; but probably there are 

 distinct species, or at least, varieties. 



"When the bird is standing in its usual position 

 of quietude, the length from the point of the bill to 

 that of the tail is not more than five inches and a 

 half, of which the bill and tail take two inches and 

 a half, measured on the horizontal line, so that the 

 body of the bird, in that position, is shorter than 

 that of any other species of equal weight. The 

 weight is two ounces and a half. The curve along 

 the under side is, however, nearly nine inches. 



" The Dipper inhabits more romantic places 

 than those that are the almost exclusive haunts of 

 any other British bird ; and its manners taken 

 altogether are among the most singular. It is not 

 confined to any particular latitude, being found 

 near the Channel, in Wales, in the mountainous 

 parts of the centre of the island, and also in the 

 north. Cold and heat seem indifferent to it, so that 

 it can be near water which is not frozen. The 

 ravines on the slopes of the mountains where the 

 perennial streams have worn themselves deep and 

 rugged channels through the strata, with here an 

 opposing rock, there a dimpling pool, and in another 

 place a brawling rapid, with loose stones, over- 

 turned trees, ne plus ultra precipices, and all the 

 et ceteras which annoy while they astonish a 

 guideless stranger in such places, are the favourite 

 haunts of the Dipper. The bird flits before him 

 from stone to stone chirping, and with a wing so 

 apparently helpless, that he imagines it unfledged, 

 utterly incapable of gaining the sky, of which a 

 mere stripe appears over head, and thus a 4 some- 

 thing,' which he can easily catch and carry home 

 as a triumph of his victory over the wild. As he 

 gives chase, with all the confidence of one who 

 drives deer into a tinchal, or Ducks into a decoy, 

 the Dipper flits on from stone to stone, flirting its 



