THE BLACK-BELLIED DIPPER. 



{Cinclus cinclus.) 



THE Dippers, or Water Ouzels, may be 

 described as Thrush-like Wrens, or Wren- 

 like Thrushes, because they have much in common 

 with Thrushes, according to the verdict of most 

 ornithologists, but, for myself, I consider them 

 much more closely related to the Wrens. Perhaps 

 the best solution of their avian relationship is to 

 recognise them as " Dippers," a self-contained 

 family of birds, v\fhich are neither true Thrushes 

 nor true Wrens. That the inclination of these 

 interesting birds is tov/ards the Wrens is, I should 

 say, unansw^erable, provided that we are permitted 

 to make plenty of allowance, and call them 



