64 CINCLUS EUROP^US. 



the bottom at small depths, and maintaining itself there for a 

 short time, a minute or more, in conformity with which design 

 its plumage is rather short and dense, its tail abbreviated, its 

 M^ngs short, broad, and strong, its bill unencumbered by bris- 

 tles, and of the proper form for seizing small objects, as well 

 as for detaching them from stones. Having its feet constructed 

 like those of the Thrushes, but proportionally stronger, the 

 Dipper thus forms a connecting link between the slender-billed 

 land birds and the diving Palmipedes, as the Kingfisher seems 

 to unite them with the plunging birds of the same order. 



When the bird is young, its bill precisely resembles that of 

 the genus Turdus, being merely a little more slender ; but 

 when it is advanced in age, the bill is not only proportionally 

 but actually much shorter, and the tips by being rubbed be- 

 come in some degree similar to those of the bill of the Wood- 

 peckers, although less neatly wedged. In this respect, the Dip- 

 per resembles the Oystercatcher, and the change in the form 

 of the bill is caused by the same action in both species. Again, 

 in old birds, the thin edges of the mandibles become marked 

 with parallel cuts, similar to those of the mandibles of the 

 Gannet, although generally perpendicular, as in the Jabiru. 

 The claws also, which in young birds are acute, become quite 

 blunt and shortened in old individuals, which shews that they 

 are subjected to rough usage in scrambling among the stones 

 at the bottom of streams. As the bird neither plunges from 

 an eminence, like the Kingfisher, nor is furnished with webs 

 to its toes, it is not fitted for pursuing fishes under water, and 

 indeed could not possibly catch them, although it might seize 

 fry not yet disentangled from the gravel. As the body is nearly 

 as broad as deep, the bird can float with ease ; but this it 

 might do were the body narrow, as in the Water-hen . It has 

 been alleged that the Dipper, not having webbed feet, cannot 

 swim ; but this is not correct, for although it is unable to make 

 way against a current by swimming, I have seen it move 

 slowly along the surface in smooth water. 



The food of this bird is indicated by the following notes 

 made at the different times of examination. One shot on the 

 Almond on the 2f)th August 183-5 had its stomach filled with 



