HISTORY OF THE COMMON DIPPER, (Cinclus aquaticus). 

 By William Mac Gillivray, A.M., F.R.S.E., M.W.S., &c, 



CONSERVATOR OF THE MUSEUM OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF EDINBURGH. 



The Dipper is, in many respects, one of the most interesting of our native 

 birds. Residing chiefly in the wild glens of the mountainous districts, it now and 

 then presents itself to the wandering naturalist as it flits along the streams, or is 

 seen perched on a stone in the midst of the water ; the white patch on its breast 

 rendering it conspicuous at a great distance. Even the mere collector of plants — 

 who, of all men, seems to be the least capable of comprehending the harmonies of 

 nature — pauses to gaze upon it, as it shoots past him in its rapid and even flight ; 

 the solitary shepherd, wending his way to the mountain corry, meets it with 

 delight ; and the patient and contemplative angler, as he guides his tackle over 

 the deep pool, smiles upon the tiny fisher whose frequent becks have attracted his 

 notice. The singular circumstance of its obtaining its food under the surface of 

 the water, although in form and structure it is allied to the Thrushes and other 

 land birds, has especially drawn the attention of ornithologists to it ; and the 

 explanation of its mode of progression in that element has exercised their ingenu- 

 ity, although very few have based their conjectures on actual observation. Lastly, 

 the land-proprietor or his factor, too much occupied with other pursuits to inquire 

 for themselves, and trusting to the reports of prejudiced persons, direct their 

 gamekeepers and shepherds to destroy the lively and harmless creature whenever 

 an opportunity occurs, because it has been supposed to destroy the eggs and fry 

 of the salmon. 



This bird having, in a particular manner, attracted my attention in the course 

 of my many rambles, I have been enabled in some measure to trace its history, 

 which I now have the pleasure of presenting to the readers of The Naturalist, 

 assuring them that it contains nothing but the results of long-continued observa- 

 tion. In the first place, however, I shall give the generic characters of Cinclus, 

 of which only three species are known to me : C. Pallasii, found by Professor 

 Pallas, in the Crimea ; C. Americanus, which inhabits Mexico and the Rocky 

 Mountains ; and C. aquaticus, found in most parts of Europe. 



Cinclus, — (Bechst). Dipper. 



Bill rather short, slender, slightly ascending, deeper than broad at the base, 

 much compressed towards the end. Upper mandible, with the dorsal line, slightly 

 arched, the ridge rounded, the sides convex, the edges sharp and inflected, with 

 an obscure notch close to the narrow, somewhat deflected, tip. Lower mandible 

 slightly bent upwards, the angle medial and very narrow, the crura having the 



VOL. I. P 



