184 MERULID A. 
slippery stones, whether above or beneath the surface of 
the water.” 
The Dipper may be said to be local rather than rare, 
but is seldom found in the counties around London. 
The nearest spot in which I have heard of a Dipper being 
seen was at a water-mill tail at Wyrardisbury on the 
Colne, about two or three hundred yards above the place 
at which it falls into the Thames, just below Bell Weir. 
It has also been seen on the Mole, near Esher. 
It is not uncommon in Devonshire and the eastern parts 
of Cornwall, where, according to Mr. Couch, it is called 
the Water Thrush. Mr. E. H. Rodd of Penzance says, 
it is less frequent about the rivers of the western part 
of the county ; which may in some measure be accounted 
for by the streams in the west of Cornwall being strongly 
impregnated by contact with mineral ore, and, in all probabi- 
lity, proving equally destructive to aquatic insects as to fish. 
It is of frequent occurrence in Wales; and Mr. Thompson 
sends me word that it is common throughout Ireland. 
The Dipper has been seen in Essex, and occasionally in 
Norfolk. In some parts of Cheshire, Derbyshire, and 
Yorkshire it is not uncommon, and probably in all the 
counties northward throughout Scotland ; but I do not find 
it noticed as inhabiting the Hebrides, Orkney, or Shetland. 
It is found in Scandinavia, Siberia, Russia, Germany, the 
Alps, Pyrenées, and Switzerland. It is common in the 
northern parts of Spain, where it is also called Water 
Thrush (Tordo de agua). Keith Abbott, Esq. has for- 
warded Specimens of this bird to the Zoological Society 
from Trebizond and Erzeroom, the most eastern locality, 
as far as | am aware, that has been yet quoted for it. 
The Dipper is secluded in its habits ; and it rarely hap- 
pens that more than two are seen together, except in 
