CINCLID.E — THK DIlM'KltS. 



57 



?>j)('cimons, of anv ajjo. fmin tlio coast of On-iron aii<l the (\i>< julc ^fountains, have the 

 111 ;nl niO'X' (licply l»rownish than those from otlici' rcirions. 



II.VH. Found throu<rh the uiountainons rcjrion of the <'«>ntral an<l western part ofXorth 

 Anieriea, from Fort Ilalkett south into Mexico and (iiialemala. Ori/aha (Alpine re<ri<»n) 

 ScMicn. None received from the coast rei^'ion of Cahfornia. Abundant on the X. \V. 

 coast, Laramie Peak and Deer Creek, Neb. 



This species has a wide ranire iiloiv^ tlie mountainous region of Xoitli and 

 ^Middle America. Mexican s[)ecimens are darker. 



IIaiuts. This interestino; bird inhal)its exclusively the mountainous por- 

 tions of North America west of the Mississipi>i fn^n Ahiska south to (luate- 

 mala. It does not appear to have been obtained on tlie coast of California, 

 nor in the valley of the ^Iississipj)i. In tlie IJritish Possessions specimens 

 have been procured on Fraser's IJiver, at Fort Halkett, and at Colville, At 

 the latter place ^Ir. J. K. Lord states that a few remain and i)ass the winter. 

 They are found among the mountain streams of Vera Cruz, and probably 

 througliout Mexico, and no doubt may be met with in all the highlands 

 between these extreme ])oints. Dr. Newberry met with it in the rai)id 

 streams of the Cascade Mountains. He describes it as Hitting along in the 

 bed of the stream, from time to time plunging' into the water and disa])pear- 

 iug, to appear again at a tlistant point, uj) or down the stream, skipping 

 about from stone to stone, constantly in motion, jerking its tail and moving 

 its bodv somewhat in the manner of a wivn. 



Dr. Cooper ol)served tliis species botli on the Columbia and its tributaries, 

 and also among the mountain streams of the Coast Range west of Santa 

 Clam. At the Litter place he found a j)air mated as early as ^larch l(>th. 

 At simset he heard the male singing very melodiously, as it sat on one 

 of its favorite rocks in the middle of the foaming rapids, Uiuking its delight- 

 ful melody heiial for quite a long distance above the sound of the roaring 

 waters. 



"This bird," adds Dr. Cooper, "combines the form of a sand] >iper, the song 

 of a canary, and the aii.atic lia])its of a duck. Its food consists almost 

 entirely of aquatic insects, and these it pursues under water, walking and 

 flying with perfect ease beneath a depth of several feet of water." He also 

 states that they do not swim on the surface, but dive, and sometimes Hy 

 across streams beneatli tlie surface ; that their fliglit is rapid and direct, like 

 that of a sandpiper ; also that tliey jerk their tails in a similar manner, and 

 generally alight on a rock or log. 



Dr. Cooper on the oth of July found a nest of this bird at a saw-mill on 

 tlie Chehalis Eiver, built under the shelving roots of an enormous arljor-vitie 

 that had floated over, and rested in a sLmting i»osition against the dam. The 

 Hoor was of small twigs, the sides and roof arched over it like an oven, and 

 formed of moss, projecting so as to protect and shelter the opening, which 

 was large enough to admit the hand. Within this nest was a brood of half- 

 Hedged young. The parents were familiar and fearless, and had become 



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