DIPPER— MISSEL -THRUSH 195 



it has been accused of devouring the eggs of trout in 

 mountain streams. The case, however, has never been 

 proved against them. See Plate 10, Fig. 50. 



The American Dipper, or Water-ouzel, as it is fre- 

 quently called, resembles the European, but the breast 

 is dark-coloured instead of white. About twelve spe- 

 cies are known, all found in the neighbourhood of 

 mountain streams. They build round nests of moss, 

 on the ground, and their eggs are white. 



Of this bird Elliott Coues writes: "Although not 

 web-footed, nor able to swim with its feet, nor having 

 the slightest affinity with water birds, nevertheless 

 there is no duck nor diver more truly aquatic than the 

 Dipper; a great part of its time, in fact, being spent 

 under water, where it repairs in search of food." 



Thrushes 



We pass now to the large family of Thrushes and 

 their near relations, many of whom are superb song- 

 sters. These birds are spread over a large part of the 

 globe, about twelve, out of the three hundred or more 

 species, being found in the United States. They are 

 rather stoutly built, live in wooded districts, and feed 

 largely upon insects and fruit. The sexes are much 

 alike in colouring, and the species are migratory and 

 somewhat gregarious in habit. The true Thrushes are 

 generally brownish or olive above, with light breasts 

 spotted with darker colour. 



The Missel-thrush is the largest song-bird found in 

 the British Islands, where it is seen all the year round. 

 It measures about ten and a half inches in length, and 

 is distinguished by the fact that the spots on the breast 



