THE EUROPEAN DIPPER. 



Cinclus aquaticus BECHSTEIN. 



PLATE II. 



Cinclus aquaticus, JBechst Merula aquatica, JZriss. 



Sturnus cinclus, Linn. Turdus cinclus, Lath. 

 Cincle plongeur, Temm. Water- Ousel, Dipper, Euro- 

 pean Dipper, of British authors. 



THE Common Water Crow, or Pyet, as it is fami- 

 liarly termed in Scotland, is a favourite with every 

 one who resides near its haunts. The solitary and 

 secluded nature of the streams it frequents, and 

 their often wild character, render it a most fitting 

 accompaniment, sufficient to break the solitude, 

 but never obtruding on the calmness of the picture; 

 one of those beautiful instances of nature's chaste 

 compositions, where the life of the landscape 

 combines to harmonize with all around ; and here 

 the effect is still more brought home by the 

 simple and peculiar melody of its song. Its 

 common locality in summer is rocky alpine, or 

 subalpine streams, and it seems indifferent 

 whether the banks are thickly clothed with wood 

 and natural brush, or are bare and barren. If 

 civilization has encroached on their retreats, and 

 machinery or mills have been in consequence 



