The 
Dipper. 
( 6 5 ) 
THE BIRD WORLD. 
Caddis-worm is very similar in size and colour 
to the mealworm, which is too well known to 
all bird-keepers to need description. 
The Outdoor Treatment. 
On the food I have described my Dipper 
thrived, and after keeping him about a month 
in the cage I cleared an outdoor aviary of its 
occupants and placed the bird in it. The floor- 
space was 6 feet by 2 feet, and the height about 
7 feet, so that it could take plenty of exercise. 
In addition to the ordinary perches, I put in 
several flower-pots the reverse way up, and 
some bricks on end, and these were more often 
used than the perches, except for roosting. I 
used a large zinc pan for water, 18 inches across 
by 4 deep in the centre, and when any insects 
were thrown in the bird would take a flying 
jump from the nearest flower-pot into the centre, 
and quickly get them out. It appeared to revel 
In water, and during the day was more often 
in the bath than out of it. 
Towards evening on June 24th, when about 
two months old, jt commenced to record its 
song, which was similar to that of a young 
Thrush, although perhaps rather more of a 
warble. In a week from starting the notes 
became quite loud. About this time I had an¬ 
other specimen of the species, which I placed 
in the same aviary, and although they fought 
a little at first, they soon became on good terms 
and did well for a bit. One, however, would 
persist in roosting close to the wire, and for 
safety I cleared another aviary with glass round 
it, and removed the two to it. 
The floor of this one was wood covered with 
cocoanut fibre, which I kept well damped. I 
put in the flower-pots, etc., but after a few days 
the two birds began to show signs of what ap¬ 
peared to be cramp in the legs, and gradually 
got from bad to worse, refusing food, even gen¬ 
tles and mealworms, and to a great extent for¬ 
saking the bath. After being in the second 
aviary about ten days one died, and a week 
later the other also. Both were very thin. 
A Question of Flooring. 
The floor of the first aviary was covered with 
tarred felt, into which had been pressed a good 
quantity of grit and sand, making it very much 
like an asphalte path, and it was suggested to 
me that this species-—in fact, all species of water 
birds—will not live long upon a wooden floor. 
Cement or earth would have been far better, 
and less likely to cause them to go crampy. I 
am inclined to think the wooden floor was to 
a great extent, if not wholly, responsible for 
my birds’ death. 
I am fairly satisfied that my feeding was not 
much at fault, or they would not have thriven 
upon it so long as they did. I heard of one 
or two other fanciers trying their luck with 
Dippers, but I believe my specimens survived 
the longest. Several attempts have been made 
to keep them in the aviaries at the Zoo, but I 
am told the percentage of deaths has been very 
high; and the old birds are very shy, and it is 
not often visitors can get a good look at them. 
Adaptable to Captivity. 
From my experience I am quite convinced 
that Dippers are adaptable to captivity if hand- 
reared, and would make very interesting occu¬ 
pants for an outdoor aviary, which, I think, is 
their proper place. Some experienced fanciers 
insist that they cannot be kept, but from my 
recent trial I disagree with thefri, and should 
be very interested to hear from any fanciers who 
have tried what their experiences have been. I 
do not think they could be kept in an ordinary 
\W. Teschemakcr . 
Young Great Tit looking out of nest. 
cage, although it would of course be quite pos¬ 
sible to show a Dipper the same as a Thrush. 
I do not recollect ever seeing a Dipper on 
the show bench, where I am sure it would be 
attractive, and no doubt stand very high up 
in the awards. All being well, I shall try again 
next year under altered conditions, when I shall 
hope for better results. 
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