638 Sub-aquatic Habits of the Dipper. 



On the Question of the Dipper's Power to walk under Water. 

 (p. 515, 516.) — P.S. A "concluding word" on Mr. Water- 

 ton's " concluding word." He objects to the doctrine of a 

 " sub-aquatic promenade ;" that is, denies the fact which has 

 been often stated by eyewitnesses ; because, forsooth, " First," 

 " the bodies " (dead bodies, of course) " of birds float on the 

 surface of the water." Who ever denied it ? " Secondly," 

 " because birds are obliged to make great exertions with 

 their wings and feet in order to be able to reach the bottom." 

 Who ever denied this either ? Even water birds, " qui in 

 aquis degunt," are obliged to do so ; "a fortiori," therefore, 

 it would be to be expected in the case of the dipper ! 

 " Thirdly," " he is satisfied that, when they have reached the 

 bottom, the force which enabled them to descend to it ceases 

 to act." What is to cause it to cease ? Is there a paralysing 

 principle at the bottom of the brook, which does not exist 

 between the bottom of it and the surface ? 



I do not see what " old Nicholas Pesce," or any other 

 " old Nicholas," has to do with the point in question, with 

 which shallow brooks are concerned. " Verbum non amplius 

 addam" — F. O. M. Doncaster, September 8. 1835. 



Is the Dipper capable, or not so, of walking under Water ? 

 (p. 514.) — I would refer Mr. Waterton to Mudie's Fea- 

 thered Tribes, article Dipper, in which, I think, the question 

 is satisfactorily proved in the affirmative. — S. D. W. Sep- 

 tember 3. 1835. 



Eurynome Pspinbsa Hailstone, 9 asp era in a young state; 

 a Correction of two Errors in the Elucidation of, given in p. 

 549, 550. — The shell is described as having two lamellae 

 behind each eye, and the rest of its margin " set with spines ; " 

 and in my drawing, I believe, you will find this the case, and 

 not serrated, as in your engraving, the proof copy of which, 

 that I received for inspection, was so confused a one, that it 

 was impossible for me to detect this error. In p. 549. line 

 6. from the bottom, for " their character," read, " this charac- 

 ter." — S. Hailstone, Jun. London, October 19. 1835. 



REVIEWS. 



Art. I. Titles of Works on Subjects of Natural History, published 



recently. 



Shepard, Charles Upham, A.B., Lecturer on Natural History 

 in Yale College, Member of the Geological Society of 

 France, &c. : Treatise on Mineralogy : Second Part, con- 



