THE DIPPER 137 



" The principal characteristic, however, of a Wren, and one that separates it from 

 the true Timeliine birds, is the almost entire absence of rictal bristles," " for 

 Ornithologists who doubt that Cine/ us is a Wren, an examination of the bill alone 

 will be sufficient to show that its place is with the Trog/odytina:." 



Family CINCLIDsE. 



THE DIPPER. 



Cinclus aquaticus, BECHST. 



COMMON and widely distributed though this conspicuous bird is, I have never 

 met with it in a wild state since I first began to study the class Aves : it 

 is likely enough that prior to that period I may have seen it in some of the 

 wilder parts of Devon without taking special note of the fact. 



Dr. Sharpe (Catalogue of Birds, Vol. VI) says : " The common White-throated 

 Dipper is widely spread over Central and Western Kurope. It has been said to 

 occur in the Faeroes, and is found throughout Ireland in suitable localities, as 

 well as Scotland with the Hebrides, and breeds in the northern and central 

 counties of Bngland, as well as in Wales and the south-western counties. In 

 other counties it is an accidental visitor. 



The upper surface of the Dipper is slaty- grey, each feather with a dark- 

 brownish margin, but the head and nape are wholly brown, wings dark-brown, the 

 quills with greyish edges ; tail greyish-brown ; chin, throat, and front of breast 

 white ; remainder of under parts chestnut-brown, passing into dark smoky-brown 

 on the flanks, thighs, vent, and under tail-coverts ; bill black ; feet brown ; iris 

 hazel. 



The female is very like the male, but is said to be darker on the flanks and 

 under tail-coverts. The young are greyer above, and show no chestnut-brown on 

 the under surface. 



VOL. i. 2 A- 





