236 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



Family CINCLID.E. The Dippers. 

 Dipper. Cinclus cindus (Linn.). 



From colour differences, especially of the pectoral band, the 

 Dippers are divided into several sub-species, three of which 

 rank as British. The Black-bellied Dipper, C.c.cinchis, which 

 has no chestnut on the lower breast, breeds in northern Europe 

 and occasionally wanders in winter ; it has on several occasions 

 been recorded from the eastern counties and from Shetland. 

 The British Dipper, C. c. brita7micus Tschusi, frequents suit- 

 able rapid streams, mostly in the hills, in England, Wales and 

 Scotland, and Dr. Hartert considers the Irish bird, C, c. hiber- 

 nic2is, more uniform black above and with a narrower band of 

 chestnut, distinct. 



The Dipper or Water Ousel (Plate 97) is a rotund, short- 

 tailed bird, dark above and white-breasted, closely associated 

 with swiftly running rivers and streams or the lakes into which 

 these fall. On the rocks round which the water swirls and 

 tumbles the Dipper perches with its short tail upHfted, its breast 

 turned towards us, bobbing spasmodic curtsies (Plate 96). 

 From these sudden dips it acquired its name, not from its 

 diving habit, though it dives as well as walks into the water. 

 It will fly rapidly and straight, its short wings whining swiftly 

 and without pauses or glides, calling a shrill zit, zit^ zit ; then 

 either drop on the water and dive or plunge in with a little 

 splash. From its perch it will walk into the water and deliber- 

 ately submerge, but there is no truth in the assertion, often 

 repeated and blindly copied, that without effort it can defy 

 the laws of specific gravity and walk along the bottom. Un- 

 doubtedly when entering the water it grips with its strong feet, 

 but the method of progression beneath the surface is by swim- 

 ming, using the wings — flying under water. With its head well 



