PALLAS' DIPPER. 283 



at a distance. When on their favorite rocks, these birds are constantly 

 dipping in the water, at the same time flirting their erected tail. While 

 on the wing they utter a feeble cry, their voice being weak and slirill, 

 but somewhat varied, and they sing from their perch, not loud, but 

 sweetly, even in the depth of winter. Early in the spring they begin to 

 utter clear and distinct notes, and are among the first to cheer the 

 lonely and romantic haunts which they frequent, with their simple 

 melody. 



These birds, like others that live about the water, pair early, and 

 have two broods in the season. The young can leave their nest before 

 being full-fledged, and at the approach of danger, drop from the height 

 where it is generally placed, into the water. In order that this may by 

 done, they build in some place overhanging the water, the ledge of a 

 rock, or the steep bank of a rivulet ; or sometimes, in inhabited coun- 

 tries, take advantage of mills, bridges, or other works of man. The 

 nest is large, composed of moss, and vaulted above ; the eggs are from 

 four to six, and of a milky white. Though very carefully hid, it may 

 be easily discovered by the incessant chirping of the young. 



Having seen nothing but the dried skin of the American Dipper, and 

 being utterly unacquainted with its habits, we have been describing as 

 common to the genus those of the European species, which are well 

 known, and which we have stopped to watch and admire among the pre- 

 cipices of the Alps and Apennines, where it struggles with the steepest 

 and most noisy cascades, and the wildest torrents. The exceedingly 

 great similarity of form in the two species strongly warrants the belief of 

 equal similarity in habits. The more uniform and cinereous hue of the 

 American, the want of reddish, but especially the striking absence of 

 the white on the throat and breast, are the sole, but sufficient marks of 

 difierence between the two species. 



Pallas' Dipper is longer than the common species, measuring eight 

 and a half inches. The bill is perfectly similar, and three-quarters of 

 an inch long, blackish, paler beneath and on the edges. The whole bird 

 without any exception is of a dark grayish slate-color, with the base of 

 the plumage somewhat lighter ; at the superior orbit is a slight indica- 

 tion of whitish. The uniform general color is somewhat darker on the 

 head, and a shade lighter beneath. The wings are three and a half 

 inches long, as in the genus ; the coverts and tertials slightly tipped 

 with dingy whitish ; the primaries incline somewhat to brown. The 

 tail measures one inch and a half, and is perfectly even. The feet are 

 of a flesh-color, and the nails dusky white ; the tarsus is precisely one 

 inch long. 



If we could rely on Brehm, four species of this genus exist, which 

 are all found in the old continent. Two are new ones proposed by him- 

 self, under the names of Cmclus septentrionalis and Cinclus melanoyoi- 



