668 OUSEL 
from other birds that, though essentially one of the true PASSERES 
(i.e. OSCINES), it forms a distinct Family, Cinclidy, which has no 
very near allies. That some of its peculiarities (for instance, the 
sternum in adult examples having the posterior margin generally 
entire, and the close covering of down that clothes the whole body 
—a, character fully recognized by Nitzsch) are correlated with its 
aquatic habit is probably not to be questioned; but this fact 
furnishes no argument for associating it, as has often been done, 
with the 7urdidx (THRUSH), the Troglodytide (WREN), or much less 
with other groups to which it has undoubtedly no affinity. The 
Dipper haunts recky streams, into which it boldly enters, generally 
by deliberately wading, and then by the strenuous combined action 
of its wings and feet makes its way along the bottom in quest of 
its living prey—freshwater mollusks, and aquatic insects in their 
larval, pupal or mature condition. By the careless and ignorant it 
is accused of feeding on the spawn of fishes, and it has been on that 
account subjected to much persecution. Innumerable examinations 
of the contents of its stomach have not only proved that the charge 
is baseless, but that the bird clears off many of the worst enemies 
of the precious product. Short and squat of stature, active and 
restless in its movements, silky black above, with a pure white 
throat and upper part of the breast, to which succeeds a broad 
band of dark bay, it is a familiar figure to most fishermen on 
the streams it frequents, while the cheerful song of the cock, 
often heard in the hardest frost, helps to make it a favourite with 
them in spite of the 
obloquy under which 
it labours. The Water- 
Ousel’s nest is a very 
curious structure,—out- 
wardly resembling a 
Wren’s, but built on a 
wholly different prin- 
ciple,—an ordinary cup- 
shaped nest of grass 
lined with dead leaves, 
placed in some con- 
venient niche, but en- 
cased with moss so as 
to form a large mass 
CINCLUS MEXICANUS. that covers it completely 
except only a small hole 
for the bird’s passage. The eggs laid within are from four to 
six in number, and are of a pure white. These remarks refer 
to the Water-Ousel of central and western Europe, including 
the British Islands; but, except as regards plumage, it is be- 
