THE DIPPEE. 55 



THE DIPPER. 



(Hydrobata mexicana.) 



Like the well-known gallinule, or water-hen 

 (Gallinula cliloropus\ the dipper swims and 

 dives with great facility ; the plumage, close and 

 compact, is similarly adapted to resist moisture 

 a wise provision, enabling the bird to remain a 

 long period in the water without becoming wet. 

 It resembles the starling in the form of the beak, 

 falcate wings, mellow song, and feet, constructed 

 on the type of ordinary perchers; bill without 

 any bristle at the base, somewhat long and 

 slender, and bent slightly upward; the culmen 

 concave towards the tip, which is notched and 

 curved; feet and legs strong, claws large, lateral 

 toes equal ; tail very short. 



The colouring of the British dipper's plumage, 

 though somewhat inclining to the sombre, is 

 nevertheless chaste and pretty. The crown on 

 the upper parts of the head and neck shades im- 

 perceptibly away into the velvet-black of the 

 back, scapulars, and wing-coverts. The breast, 

 front part of the neck, and throat are snowy 

 white; a rusty-brown line separates it from the 



