194 MERULID^E. 



slippery stones, whether above or beneath the surface of the 

 water." 



The Dipper may be said to be local rather than rare, 

 but is seldom found in the counties around London. The 

 nearest spot in wliich I have heard of a Dipper being seen 

 was at a water-mill tail at Wyrardisbury on the Colne, 

 about two or three hundred yards above the place at which 

 it falls into the Thames, just below Bell Weir. It has 

 also been seen on the Mole, near Esher. 



It is not uncommon in Devonshire and the eastern parts 

 of Cornwall, where, according to Mr. Couch, it is called 

 the Water Thrush. Mr. E. H. Rodd of Penzance says, 

 it is less frequent about the rivers of the western part 

 of the county ; which may in some measure be accounted 

 for by the streams in the west of Cornwall being strongly 

 impregnated by contact with mineral ore, and, in all pro- 

 bability, proving equally destructive to aquatic insects 

 as to fish. It is of frequent occurrence in Wales ; and 

 Mr. Thompson sends me word that it is common through- 

 out Ireland. 



The Dipper has been seen in Essex, and occasionally in 

 Norfolk. In some parts of Cheshire, Derbyshire, and York- 

 shire it is not uncommon, and probably in all the counties 

 northward throughout Scotland ; but I do not find it 

 noticed as inhabiting the Hebrides, Orkney, or Shetland. 

 It is found in Scandinavia, Siberia, Russia, Germany, the 

 Alps, Pyrenees, and Switzerland. It is common in the 

 northern parts of Spain, where it is also called Water 

 Thrush (Tor do de agua). Keith Abbott, Esq., has for- 

 warded specimens of this bird to the Zoological Society 

 from Trebizond and Erzeroum, the most eastern locality, 

 as far as I am aware, that has been yet quoted for it. 



The Dipper is secluded in its habits ; and it rarely hap- 

 pens that more than two are seen together, except in 



