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A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE 



DEVOTED TO THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF BIRDS 



Official Organ of the Audubon Societies 



Vol. X January — February, 1908 No. 1 



The American Dipper in Colorado 



By JUNIUS HENDERSON 



Curator of Museum, University of Colorado 



I HAVE long been convinced that the most remarkable and interesting 

 bird inhabiting Colorado is Cinclus mexicanus unicolor, commonly called 

 the Water Ouzel or Dipper — 'Dipper' because of the dipping motion of 

 the body as it courtesies on the rocks, according to the one who first applied 

 the name to the species, not because of its dipping the body into the water, 

 as some have supposed. True, many birds are much larger, more highly col- 

 ored or in other ways more striking. Indeed, so dull and common-place is the 

 close-fitting brown and slate-colored garb, and so well does the noise of the 

 dashing torrent drown his clear, ringing song, that the majority of visitors to 

 our canons are not aware of his existence. Yet, whoever is. permitted to watch 

 him for a few moments feels that it is time well spent. Of the species known 

 to science the writer is familiar only with the one of this region, but doubtless 

 the habits of the others are much the same. Mr. Ridgway gives the following 

 brief summary of the habits of the family: 



"They are found only in mountainous or hilly districts, where they frequent 

 swift, rocky streams, in which they seek their food, consisting of water insects 

 and the spawn of fishes. They are at home in the water, under which they 

 propel themselves by motion of their wings; in short, they fly through the water 

 as readily as through the air. Their nest is a domed structure, usually placed 

 behind or near a waterfall, covered with moss, and kept green by the spray 

 which constantly moistens it." 



The bird student of the 'prairie states' who is unfamiliar with the family, 

 upon reading the foregoing sentences, may turn to his books and learn that 

 the Dippers are allied to the Thrushes, Wrens and other members of the well- 

 regulated order of perching birds, and from his familiarity with that order he 

 may well exclaim: "Who ever heard of a perching bird flying through the water 

 and rearing its young where the spray constantly moistens the nest! Next thing 

 we will be asked to believe that this bird which has developed the ability to fly 

 through the water with the agility of a Penguin, has retained the ability to fly 



