MACGILLIVEAY ON THE DIPPER's HABITS ' 87 



has been very successfully studied by William Macgillivray, 

 whose singularly truthful narrative reflects the general econo- 

 my of the family so clearly that I shall transcribe a portion of 

 his account, especially sinca it is equally applicable, mutatis 

 mutandis, to the single species which is found in North 

 America. I quote the passages which refer more particularly 

 to the bird's actions in the water, as corroborative of what has 

 been already said with less regard to minute detail. 



" The flight of the Dipper is steady, direct, and rapid, like 

 that of the Kingfisher, being effected by regularly timed and 

 quick beats of the wings, without intermissions or sailings. It 

 perches on stones or projecting crags by the sides of streams, 

 or in the water, where it may be seen frequently inclining the 

 breast downwards, and jerking up the tail, much in the manner 

 of the Wheatear and Stonechat, and still more of the Wren ; 

 its legs bent, its neck retracted, and its wings slightly drooping. 

 It plunges into the water, not dreading the force of the current, 

 dives, and makes its way beneath the surface, generally moving 

 against the stream, and often with surprising speed. It does 

 not however, immerse itself head foremost from on high like 

 the Kingfisher, the Tern, or the G-anuett ; but either walks out 

 into the water, or alights upon its surface, and then plunges 

 like an Auk or a Guillemot, slightly opening its wings, and 

 disappearing with an agility and dexterity that indicate its 

 proficiency in diving. I have seen it moving under water in 

 situations where I could observe it with certainty, and I readily 

 perceived that its actions were precisely similar to those of the 

 Divers, Mergansers, and Cormorants, which Ihave often watched 

 from an eminence, as they pursued the shoals of sand-eels along 

 the sandy shores of the Hebrides. It in fact flew, not merely 

 using the wing, from the carpal joint, but extending it con- 

 siderably, and employing its whole extent, just as if advancing 

 in the air. The general direction of the body in these circum- 

 stances is obliquely downwards ; and great force is evidently 

 used to counteract the effects of gravity, the bird finding it 

 difficult to keep itself at the bottom, and when it relaxes its 

 efforts coming to the surface like a cork. Montagu has well 

 described the appearance which it presents under such circum- 

 stances : — ' In one or two instances, when we have been able to 

 perceive it under water, it appeared to tumble about in a very 

 extraordinary manner, with its head downwards, as if picking 

 something ; and at the same time great exertion was used, both 



