68 



BIRDS. 



and, but still more rarely, I have found individuals on the rocks 

 or flying along the edges of salt water — possibly passing on from one 

 burn-mouth to another, but also feeding upon the insect life which 

 is there to be found, especially in severe winter weather. The 

 Dipper is to be found also at considerable elevations, ascending the 

 mountain burns almost to their sources. Solitary (but see my 

 volume on North- West Highlands and Skye). 



Mr. R. N. Kerr, of Dundee, adds his testimony to the harmless- 

 ness of this charming little bird in an eloquent defence contributed to 

 the East of Scotland Union of Naturalists' Societies (Proc, 1887, 

 p. 19, etc.) — remarks which apply equally in summer and in the 

 winter months. I am always glad to add independent testimony 

 thus, and recommend a perusal of Mr. Kerr's remarks. Also, I may 

 once more refer to our own remarks in previous volumes of this 

 series, especially our first and ninth volumes. 



In 1850 Col. H. "W. Feilden did not recollect ever having seen 

 a Dipper on the Eden. He adds (in lit. to me): "I think I am 

 fairly correct in this observation, for I went to Dumfriesshire in the 

 winter of 1855 on a visit, and I remember my joy at seeing Dippers 

 in abundance " (Solway). 



At the present time (1904) Dippers are known to be abundant 

 on the Kenley Burn and elsewhere in the east of Fife. 



But there is a somewhat susjDicious scarcity of the Dipper in several 

 districts in the north-west, west, and south-west of Tay, and this 

 seems to me to point at local persecution. In this I would be glad to 

 learn that I am wrong. But I do not find that I made a single note 

 in my journals of May and June 1905 in those parts; and Mr. \Y. 

 Evans, when in the Killin district in August of the same year, tells 

 me he only met with it "ot? a few occasions,'" instancing only three 

 widely separate localities. 



Family SYLVIID^. 

 Saxicola oenanthe (i.). Common Wheatear. 



Summer visitant, about our earliest to arrive. It has a wide range 

 throughout the entire area, from the sand-hills of Fife and Forfar 

 and the clifi'-tops of Forfar and Kincardine to the furthest recesses 

 of the Highlands, going up, to my own knowledge, to at least 

 the 2600 feet of altitude above sea-level. It is, however, more 

 scattered in the higher grounds, but may shortly be described as 

 universal in all suitable places. A favourite haunt is among the 

 " blars " or great level moors, where huge boulders lie scattered over 



