266 HILL BIRDS OF SCOTLAND 



It is not only amongst the mountainous districts of 

 our Islands that the Water Ouzel has its home. In Scandi- 

 navia it is numerous, and I have seen it on the hill streams 

 of the Maritime Alps and of the Pyrenees. It is found in 

 Corsica and Sardinia, and extends to North- West Africa 

 and Asia. 



Description. — Upper part of head and hind neck uniform 

 sooty brown colour, the rest of the upper parts dark grey 

 mixed with black. The major wing coverts are black 

 with blue grey margins. Underneath, from the bill to 

 the breast, the Dipper is pure white, and beyond this is a 

 patch of chestnut which extends backwards to the fore- 

 part of the abdomen. Flanks dark grey, abdomen black. 

 Under tail coverts dark grey, tipped with brown. 



In the mature young the under parts are cream coloured, 

 the feathers being margined with grey. Upper parts 

 greenish grey marked with black. The colouring of the 

 adult is assumed with the second moult. 



