182 MERULID^E. 



CONSIDERABLE interest is attached to the natural history of 

 the Dipper, or Water Ouzel, from the diversity of opinions 

 that exist even to the present time, in reference not only to 

 its power of diving, which is believed by some to be ac- 

 complished without any perceivable muscular effort, but 

 that it can also walk at the bottom when under water with 

 the same ease that other birds walk on dry land. 



Never having seen this bird alive, I must be indebted to 

 the recorded observations of those who have ; and one of 

 the most complete and perfect accounts that I am acquaint- 

 ed with is that by Mr. Macgillivray, published in the first 

 volume of the Naturalist, page 105. 



The Dipper frequents clear, rocky mountain streams, and 

 although allied to the Thrush or the Blackbird in its in- 

 ternal organization, and in many of its actions on land, it 

 has also the habits and powers of the Moorhen ; living 

 constantly by the sides of rivers, swimming and diving 

 with great facility, and feeding principally upon the various 

 aquatic insects with which the bottoms of streams abound. 



I am indebted to the kindness of my friend John Mor- 

 gan, Esq. for the only opportunity that has occurred to 

 me of dissecting a specimen of this bird, which came from 

 Wales. The muscles and other parts of the organs of 

 voice are similar to those of the Thrush ; but I found 

 nothing in the structure of this bird internally that could 

 induce me to believe that it possessed the powers which 

 have been so frequently attributed to it, of diving and 

 remaining on the ground at the bottom of the water, 

 without making any visible muscular effort. Its short 

 wings are well adapted for diving ; but, clothed with its 

 feathers, the specific gravity of the Dipper must be con- 

 siderably less than that of an Otter or a Beaver, and we 

 know that diving and remaining under water is not accom- 



