CINCLUS. 



1G3 



of the vent, abdomen, and under tail-coverts narrowly margined 

 with white; tips to quills broader than in the fully adult. Early 

 in the first spring the white margins and tips are cast and the 

 full plumage donned. 



Legs and feet dark brown ; bill black (G. Henderson). 



Length about 8 ; tail 2T ; wing 3-8 ; tarsus 1*15 ; bill from 

 gape "95. 



This species extends westward to Asia Minor, and is closely allied 

 to the three races of Dipper which are found in Europe. It may 

 be distinguished from them by the absence of rufous on the abdomen 

 immediately next the white breast, and further by the brown of 

 the mantle extending some distance down the back and blending with 

 the colour of the latter. To the north, the present form tends to 

 run into G. leucogaster, in typical examples of which the whole 

 lower parts are white. In some specimens there is a tendency 

 towards G. sordid us, the white of the throat and breast being 

 infuscated and occasionally these parts are quite brown. 



Distribution. The Himalayas from Grilgit to Sikhim from 9000 to 

 14,000 feet or higher, according to season. This Dipper extends 

 on the west to Asia Minor and on the east to China, and it has a 

 very extended range through Central Asia. 



709. Cinclus asiaticus. The Brown Dipper. 



Cinclus asiaticus, Swains. Faun. Bor.-Amer., Birds, p. 174 (1831) ; 

 Salmn, Bis, 1 807, p. 120 ; Blanf. J. A. S. B. xli, pt. ii, p. 48 ; Hume, 

 Cat. no. 347; SJiarpe, Cat. B. M. vi, p. 314; Scully, S. F. viii, 

 p. 281 ; id. Ibis, 1881, p. 437 ; Gates in Hume's N. fy E. 2nd ed. ii, 

 p. 112. 

 Hydrobata asiatica (Swains.), Bhjth, Cat. p. 158; Horsf. <§• M. Cat. 

 i, p. 185; Jercl. B. I. i, p. 50G ; Hume, N. Sf E. p. 225 ; Hume f 

 Hcnders. lath, to York. p. 188 ; Godw.-Aust. J. A. S. B. xlv, pt. ii, 

 p. 203; Biddulph, Ibis, 1881, p. 52. 

 The Brown Water-Ouzel, Jerd. ; Nambong karriak, Lepch. ; Chubia 

 ■i afcka, Bhut. 



Fig. 42. — Head of G. asiaticus. 



Coloration. The whole plumage chocolate-brown, the edges of 

 tbe feathers somewhat paler in places; the eyelids covered w it h 

 white feathers; wings and tail dark brown, edged with the same 

 colour as that of the plumage in general, the later quills tipped white. 



The young in March, just fledged, have the upper plumage grey, 

 the feathers tipped with black and the subterminal portion more 



m2 



