PASSFJRES. 



DTPFEI?. 



241 



cfivcfjn.h:. 



CiNCLUS AQUATicus, Bechsteiu*. 

 THE DIPPER. 



C'mclus aqaatkvs. 



CiNCLUS, Bechsteinf. — Bill moderate, slightly ascending, angular and higher 

 than broad at the base ; straight, compressed and rounded near the tip : the 

 upper mandible slightly decurving at the point. Nostrils basal, lateral, placed 

 in a depression, cleft longitudinally, partly covered by a membrane. Gape very 

 narrow, and not furnished with bristles. Wings short, broad and convex : the 

 first feather very short ; the second not so long as the third or fourth, which are 

 nearly equal. Tail short. Legs feathered to the tibio-tarsal joint ; tarsus 

 longer than the middle toe ; the lateral toes equal in length ; the outer toe 

 slightly connected with the middle toe. The whole body closely covered with 

 down. Sternum with the posterior margin entire. 



Considerable interest is attached to the natural history 

 of the Dipper, or Water-Ouzel, from the diversity of opinions 

 that have existed in reference to its power not only of diving, 

 which was beheved by some to be accompHshed without any 



* Ornithologisches Taschenbuch, 

 VOL. I. 



p. 206 (1802). 



t Tom. cit. p. 205. 

 I I 



