CINCLID^ — THE DIPPERS. 57 



Specimens, of any age, from the coast of Oregon and the Cascade Mountains, have the 

 head more deeply brownish than those from other regions. 



Hab. Found through the mountainous region of the central and western part of North 

 America, from Fort Halkett soutli into Mexico and Gruatemala. Orizaba (Alpine region) 

 SuMicii. None received from the coast region of Calitbrnia. Abundant on the N. W. 

 coast, Laramie Peak and Deer Creek, Neb. 



This species has a wide range along the mountainous region of North and 

 Middle America. Mexican specimens are darker. 



Habits. This interesting bird inhabits exclusively the mountainous por- 

 tions of North America west of the Mississippi from Alaska south to Guate- 

 mala. It does not appear to have been obtained on the coast of California, 

 nor in the valley of the Mississippi. In the Britisli Possessions specimens 

 have been procured on Fraser's River, at Fort Halkett, and at Colville. At 

 the latter place JMr. J. K. Lord states that a few remain and pass the winter. 

 They are found among the mountain streams of Vctu Cruz, and probably 

 througliout Mexico, and no doubt may be met with in all the highlands 

 between these extreme ])oints. Dr. Newberry met with it in the raj)id 

 streams of the Cascade Mountains. He describes it as flitting along in the 

 bed of the stream, from time to time plunging into the water and disappear- 

 ing, to appear again at a distant point, up or down the stream, skipping 

 about from stone to stone, constantly in motion, jerking its tail and mtDving 

 its body somewhat in the manner of a wren. 



Dr. Cooper observed this species both on the Columbia and its tributaries, 

 and also among the mountain streams of the Coast Range west of Santa 

 Clara. At the latter place he found a pair mated as early as March 16th. 

 At sunset he heard the male singing very melodiously, as it sat on one 

 of its favorite rocks in the middle of the Ibaming rapids, making its delight- 

 ful melody heard for quite a long distance above the sound of the roaring 

 waters. 



" This bird," adds Dr. Cooper, " combines the form of a sandpiper, the song 

 of a canary, and the aquatic habits of a duck. Its food consists almost 

 entirely of aquatic insects, and these it pursues under water, walking and 

 flying with perfect ease beneath a depth of several feet of water." He also 

 states that they do not swim on the surface, but dive, and sometimes fly 

 across streams beneath the surface ; that their flight is rapid and direct, like 

 that of a sandjjiper ; also that tliey jerk their tails in a similar mannei', and 

 generally alight on a rock or log. 



Dr. Cooper on the Oth of July found a nest of this bird at a saw-mill on 

 the Cliehalis River, built under the shelving roots of an enormous arl)or-vitie 

 that had floated over, and rested in a slanting position against the dam. The 

 floor was of small twigs, the sides and roof arclied over it like an oven, and 

 formed of moss, projecting so as to protect and shelter the opening, which 

 was large enough to admit the hand. Within this nest was a brood of half- 

 fledged young. The parents were familiar and fearless, and had become 

 8 



