374 Notices of the Affinities, Habits, 



Near the end of May, in the present year, a nestful of young 

 ones was found in Camperdown Woods, situated close to the 

 trunk at the insertion of a branch of a spruce fir, about six 

 feet from the ground. It was composed of materials similar 

 to those used by the chaffinch, and contained three birds, 

 covered with a black down. The old ones were also taken. 



These birds generally arrive here about the latter end of 

 September, or beginning of October, in large flocks, and may 

 be seen during the winter hovering about the ragworts and 

 nettles that shoot up here and there among the snow ; and 

 when the vernal breezes begin to scatter around the fragrant 

 essences of flowers, and the forests to put forth their green 

 garniture of leaves, they take their departure for their own 

 sweet homes in the north. — Dundee, Sept. 27. 1834. 



Art. IV. Notices of the Affinities, Habits, and certain Localities 

 of the Dipper (Cinclus aqudticus). By the Rev. Francis Orpen 

 Morris, B.A. 



I have lately had several opportunities of observing the 

 habits of the dipper (Cinclus aquaticus), and a few observa- 

 tions on that bird, I hope, will not be unacceptable to some of 

 your readers. 



The dipper has, lately, been most properly removed from 

 the place it formerly held among the ouzels, to which genus 

 of birds it bears not the slightest affinity, either in general 

 appearance, formation, or habits. In its general habits and 

 modes of life, it has, in my opinion, a much nearer relation 

 to the kingfishers ; and, though I would be far from placing it 

 in the next genus to those birds (although at present it seems 

 to have no relative place of its own), yet, I imagine its place 

 to be much nearer to them than is generally supposed. Its 

 wings, which are very short, and totally unlike those of the 

 ouzels, have a very strong resemblance to those of the ^Ice- 

 dines ; its flight, in consequence, as I suppose, of the forma- 

 tion of its wings, which naturally are adapted to its habits, is, 

 therefore, straight forward, strong, and exceedingly like that 

 of the kingfisher, though perhaps not so rapid, for which bird, 

 were it not for the difference of colour, it might easily be mis- 

 taken in its flight. Its tail also is stiff, and much shorter than 

 that of the ouzels, as are its thighs, which are placed very far 

 back. Since forming the above opinion, I have been informed * 



* By Walter Gisborne, Esq., brother to Thomas Gisborne, Esq., M. P. 

 for North Derbyshire. 



