^9 



DIPPEE. 



CINCLUS AQUATICUS, Bechst. 



Cinclus aquaticus^ Bechst. Orn. Taschenb. i. p. 206 (1802) ; 



Naum. iii. p. 925 ; Hewitson, i. p. 77 ; Yarr. ed. 4^ i. 



p. 241 ; Dresser, ii. p. 167. 

 Cinclus eiiropaeus, Macg. ii. p. 50. 



Aquassiere, Fi-ench ; Wasseramsel, Wasserschwdtzer, Ger- 

 man ; Pordo de Agua, Peckiblanco, Spanish. 



This delightful little bird is probably well known to 

 those of my readers who are addicted to salmon- and 

 trout- fishing, as the favourite haunts of the Salmonidoe 

 are the favourite resorts of the Dipper ; in fact, the bird 

 is accused of devouring the spawn of these fishes, and 

 has, I grieve to say, been almost exterminated in certain 

 places on that account. I do not pretend to pronounce 

 judgment on this subject, but am very strongly inclined 

 to consider that the damage done by the Dipper has 

 been grossly exaggerated, and can only say that if I 

 were the fortunate possessor of a salmon- or trout-river 

 this merry little bird should be as welcome to take his 

 share of their produce, as the Herons and Kingfishers 

 are to theirs of the coarse fishes of our Northampton- 

 shire Nene. 



The Dipper, except for his aquatic habits, much 



