196 On the Occurrence of some of the Rarer Species of Birds 



Cinclus Aquaticus. " Water Ouzle," or " Dipper/^ I am glad to 

 be able to mention one well-authenticated instance of this peculiarly 

 interesting- little bird occurring in our county. This bird was killed 

 in Mere stream, on November 9th, 1876, by Mr. W. Matthews, 

 and is now in Mr. Baker^s collection, having been stuffed by King 

 in his best manner. This is the only instance I can hear of of this 

 little bird occurring in our neighbourhood, which does not afford it 

 the kind of shelter necessary for its happiness. I have seen them 

 myself at Bishops Lydeard, in Somerset, where they were uncommon, 

 and in Cornwall, where there are plenty of them. In the last- 

 mentioned county I remember being equally annoyed and surprised 

 by the sudden disappearance of one of these little birds, which, after 

 some trouble, I congratulated myself on having at last secured for 

 my collection, but on going to pick it up out of the brook, where 

 I confidently expected to see my prize floating dead on the surface, 

 I could not discover the least sign of it ; for (true to its name) it 

 had " dipped " instantaneously at the shot, and took care never to 

 appear again while I was present. The power that this little bird 

 has of keeping under water, while searching for its food, is very 

 remarkable; but, as Mr. Mudie remarks, in his " Feathered Tribes," 

 it may be very simply explained : " If it wishes to go down it strikes 

 upwards with its wings and tail, i£ to come up it does just the re- 

 verse. Any one who has ever seen a Dipper under water, or has the 

 slightest knowledge of the elements of mechanics, can understand 

 the whole matter in an instant. The dipper, indeed, is often adduced 

 as an instance of the beautiful simplicity of animal mechanics.''^ It 

 is a local bird, that will not make itself at home, except where it 

 can find the rippling stream, the moss-grown rock, and spray of the 

 waterfall, which are essential to its habits. 



SlLVIAD^. 



On coming to the family of the Warhlers, which stands next in 

 the large order of Insessores, the ornithologist will find quite enough 

 to test his accuracy and practical knowledge. They are not only 

 numerous in themselves, but, in many instances, so like each other, 

 that personal handling alone can sometimes satisfy you of the nature 



