NOV., 1892. BIRDS ABOUT ELLESMERE AND LLANSILIN. 
245 
also different. While the sedge bird generally places its nest on 
a tuft of rushes on the ground, or in a bush, very near it, the 
reed warbler builds among the reeds. The nest is so deep as 
to conceal the bird when sitting. Although slight in texture, 
it is firmly interwoven between several reeds drawn together; 
and thus, suspended like a cradle, waves over the water. If it 
were not so deep as it is, the eggs would roll out in a 
wind. The reed warbler keeps always to the water side ; 
sometimes the sedge warbler is to be found away from it. 
Whenever a nightingale is said to have been heard in Shrop¬ 
shire, I have little doubt it was really the sedge warbler. 
Amongst the birds of the water-side we in this country 
may include the starlings during the closing months of the 
year, for these birds roost at that time in vast numbers in 
the reeds at Colemere. I have often gone to Colemere with 
my children for the purpose of seeing the starlings go to bed. 
Here they may be seen gradually assembling in their 
thousands late on some November afternoon, executing their 
autumn manoeuvres in the heavens, “ twisting and turning, 
and wheeling and whirling, with a marvellous combination of 
suddenness and accuracy,” and at last “ dropping like stones 
upon the reeds, on which they cluster as close as they can 
crowd.” 
I have omitted to mention the kingfisher. It is not 
uncommon about Ellesmere, often building, in the spring, 
near mv own house. It is a bird which most affects 
«/ 
stagnant pools, while the water-ousel loves best clear 
mountain streams. There is no greater favourite of mine 
than the water-ousel or dipper. The plumage of the bird 
is in perfect keeping with its haunts—dark, with a pure 
white breast, exactly resembling one of the little balls of 
foam which loiter among the stones in swift streams. Its 
song, moreover, seems to be set to the music of rapid waters ; 
and it constantly sings in middle winter, when the stone 
on which it is sitting is rimmed with ice. The nest 
of the dipper is very large, formed of moss and 
water plants, and lined with dry oak leaves. In shape it 
is like that of a wren. It is usually placed against the 
bank of a stream, but I have sometimes found it under a 
bridge, or even at the back of a waterfall, where the water in 
falling only just cleared the nest as it fell. Two other beauti¬ 
ful birds, building their nests on the banks of Welsh streams, 
are the delicate sandpiper and the graceful grey wagtail. 
If we go up the hills there are red grouse for us in 
abundance. In some places, as for example a few miles from 
here (The Quinta) there are a few black grouse. The ring 
ousels or mountain blackbirds, are only with us during the 
