BRITISH BIRDS 



ally rufous-brown, more 



or less barred, chiefly on the 

 rump, with dark brown. Bars also on 

 tail and wings. White spots on the 

 median coverts. Under-parts whitish to 

 brownish, more or less barred with dusky 

 shades on the belly and flanks. Pale 

 stripe above eye. The St. Kilda wren is 

 larger, greyer, and has the bars on the 

 primaries white and dark grey instead 

 of white and dark brown or black. The 

 Shetland wren is darker, especially on 

 ' the under-parts. 

 Fig. 22. Nest. In almost any convenient recess, 



in a wall, bank, tree-trunk, &c., or in a 



thick bush or creepers. A domed structure with hole at the 

 side and usually well concealed, and matching the site. 

 Material : various bracken, moss, lichens, leaves, &c., lined 

 with feathers. Unlined nests are built (as far as is known) 

 by the cock and are not used for eggs unless subsequently 

 lined. 



Eggs. Usually 5-8. White, more or less speckled with 

 reddish-brown. Av. size, *64 x '49 in. St. Kilda wren's egg,, 

 '71 x '54 in. Laying begins April-May. Broods 1-2. 



(8) Family: Cinclidce Dippers 



39. Dipper or Water-ouzel [Cinclus cinclus britannicus 

 (Tschusi); G. aquaticusTtQchstein]. Breeds by quick running rocky 

 streams chiefly in N. and W. England, in Scotland, and Wales. 

 Stationary except for movements to open water in time of 

 frost. The black-bellied dipper [G. cinclus 

 cinclus (Linn.)] is an occasional visitor to 

 the east coast. The Irish form [G. c. hiber- 

 nicus Hartert] is confined to Ireland. 



Bird. Length 7 in. The British form 

 is recognised by the dusky plumage con- 

 trasting with the white front and by the 

 short tail and wings. Below the white is 

 a patch of chestnut followed by black. 

 Upper-parts mostly lead-grey, but sooty- 

 brown on the head. Young differ chiefly 

 Fig. 23. i n having the under-parts cream colour, 



mottled grey. The Irish form differs in 

 being darker on the upper-parts and less chestnut on the 

 breast. The black-bellied form has little or no chestnut. 

 Nest. Place: usually near running water, under a bridge, 



