CINCLUS MELANOGASTER 133 



way from dark-bellied specimens of European Dippers, C. melanogaster, 

 Brehm. Its wing length is 8'75 inches. 



In some parts of the Maroccan Atlas the Dipper appears to be far 

 from uncommon and resident. Mr. E. G. Meade-Waldo, in a recent 

 journey in the Great Atlas, met with the bird in the Amsmiz district, 

 and writes as follows concerning it : — 



" On the stream (a branch of the Amsmiz Eiver), which we followed 

 up to its source at about 8,500 feet, we found numbers of what was 

 apparently the common Dipper {Ciiiclus aquaticus). I caught a nearly 

 full-fledged j'oung bird, which dived all about the bottom of a pool, and 

 tried to hide under the stones below; this was on July l'2th." And 

 further on, in a list of the birds met with during the same journey, 

 Mr. Meade-Waldo writes : — 



" I saw the Dipper on a branch of the upper waters of the Wad- 

 Amsmiz, running down from the east of Tizi-Gourza. It was common 

 and breeding. I saw it up to some 9,000 feet. There appeared to be 

 a pair about every mile. They had young out of the nest but unable 

 to fly, in July " {Ibis, 1908, pp. 204 and 205). 



Although the physical characters of the greater part of the 

 Tunisian Regency are no doubt but ill adapted to the tastes of a 

 bird like the Dipper, there are nevertheless some parts, particularly 

 in the north-western districts, which offer suitable surroundings, and 

 where there is every reason to believe that a few of these birds may be 

 found, not merely as wanderers, for the species is not a true migrant, 

 but as residents, occurring all the year round. 



Eminently a water-loving bird, the Dipper, or Water-Ouzel, is 

 generally to be found frequenting clear-running streams and mountain 

 torrents where it may be seen perching on some rock or stone in 

 mid-stream, or darting rapidly over the surface of the water. In this 

 element itself the bird seems quite at home, being able to dive and 

 swim under water with the utmost facility, and obtaining its food 

 there to a great extent. This consists chiefly of aquatic insects and 

 their larvae. 



In Europe the dome-shaped nest of this species is generally to be 

 found placed in a hole in a bank or under a ledge of rocks, and is 

 constructed chiefly of moss, grass and leaves, closely matted together. 

 The eggs, from four to six in number, are pure white, and measure 

 about 25 X 18 mm. 



Various local forms of the Dipper occur, some of which are no 



