THE DIPPER. 75 



The Dipper is partial to certain localities, and frequents 

 the same spots year after year with considerable constancy. 

 The flight is strong-, straight, and quick, the movement of 

 the wings being of a very regular character. Its song 

 is a sweet quick note, retained throughout the whole of 

 the year, and is uttered both during flight and also when 

 the bird is perched on some stone or stump. 



The Dipper is of a very quarrelsome disposition, and 

 it is rare, except in the breeding season, to see more than 

 one at the same place. Each bird appears to have its own 

 feeding-ground, and should another come upon it, the 

 occupier will keep chasing the intruder until he is obliged 

 to leave. 



The genus Cinclus to which the Dipper belongs is a 

 sub-family of the Thrushes. It is found in Russia, Siberia, 

 Scandinavia, and generally among the Alpine streams, in 

 Germany and the north of Spain. 



The length of the male Dipper is seven inches and 

 three-quarters. The bill is bluish-black, tinged at the edges 

 with brown ; iris pale brown, with a ring of black in the 

 centre, the margins of the eyelids white; head, crown, 

 back of neck, dark brown ; chin, throat, and upper part 

 of breast, pure white; lower part chesnut, assuming a 

 deep grey towards the tail ; the sides deep grey : the back 

 very dark grey, each feather being broadly edged with black. 

 The wings are brownish-black, tinged with grey. The tail 

 is short, even, and of a brownish-black on the upper part, 

 and deep grey slightly tipped with pale brown underneath. 

 The legs and toes are bluish-grey, shaded with brown, 

 claws, dusky. The female resembles the male in plumage, 

 but the head, crown, neck, and nape are a lighter brown, 

 and the chestnut of the breast is of a duller rust colour. 



