CINCI.ID/E. 



89 



/ -'- 



THE DIPPER. 



CiNCLUS AQUATicus, Bcchstein. 



It may fairly be said that the Dipper, Water-Ouzel or ' Water- 

 Crow ' is found in the British Islands wherever there are rapidly 

 running rivers or brooks rippling over rocks and stones; while, as a 

 straggler, it occurs on the margins of more sluggish streams. 

 Locahties suitable to its habits present themselves in Cornwall, 

 Devon and Somerset (where the bird is known as the 'Water-Colly ' 

 i.e. Water-Blackbird), Wales and the bordering counties, and, north- 

 wards, to Scotland, where every river or Highland burn of any con- 

 sequence is frequented by several pairs ; the range extending to the 

 Outer Hebrides. In Ireland it is resident in the mountainous dis- 

 tricts. In winter the mouths of tidal rivers, and the sea-shore are 

 favourite resorts. 



Our Dipper is of rare occurrence in the eastern counties of 

 England, which are, however, sometimes visited in winter by the 

 Black-bellied Dipper, Cinchis melaiwgaster, Brehm ; a form which 

 some naturalists consider entitled to specific rank. The latter has 

 little or no chestnut colour in the breast-band, and is found in its 

 distinctive coloration in Scandinavia, and in Northern Russia ; 

 visiting Denmark, Heligoland, Northern Germany and Holland. 

 After examining a considerable number of Dippers, including the 



