CINCLUS LEUCOGASTER, Eversm. 



White-bellied Water-Ouzel. 



Cinclus leucog aster, Eversm. Add. Pall. Zoog. Rosso-Asiat. — Bonap. Consp. Gen. A v., p. 252, Cinclus, sp. 3. 



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Were I to say that this is the only species of Water-ouzel with an entirely white under-surface, I should be 

 stating what is not the case ; for, strange to say, there are two Cincli inhabiting the mountain-streams of 

 the Andes both of which have the under-surface white, but which are smaller birds than the other members 

 of the genus, and, as they differ somewhat in form, might perhaps be with propriety separated into a 

 distinct genus : but in the Old World the present is the only species of true Cinclus with a white breast 

 and abdomen ; and hence the term leucogaster is very appropriate. 



The White-bellied Water-ouzel is another of the birds noticed by Pallas, but which has been left for Evers- 

 mann to give it a specific appellation. In point of rarity, this bird surpasses the C. Pallasi ; and, as was 

 the case with that species, I am indebted to the Trustees of the Derby Museum at Liverpool for the loan of 

 the specimen I have figured from. Not having access in this country to any work in which the bird was 

 described, I was induced to write to Dr. Hartlaub, of Bremen (a gentleman intimately acquainted with the 

 Russian Ornithological discoveries), and to solicit his assistance in the matter ; and he has kindly furnished 

 me with the following reply : — 



"What I have to say about Cinclus leucogaster is very little. The bird was originally described by Evers- 

 mann in his ' Addenda ad Pallasii Zoographiam Rosso-Asiaticam,' a work of which nearly all the copies were 

 destroyed by fire, consequently very few remain. I have never seen it, but there was a copy in the library 

 of the late Mr. Oken. The bird is very probably the ' Sturnus Cinclus, var. ' ad Teniseam, et in orientali 

 Siberia' of Pall. Zoogr. Rosso-Asiat., torn. i. p. 426. Middendorf says (p. 163) that 'a specimen of Cinclus 

 leucogaster was shot at Udskoi-Ostrog.' All the specimens received at St. Petersburg came from Semipa- 

 latinsk, where the bird seems to be very common. I have seen numbers from that locality; and two speci- 

 mens from thence are contained in our collection. Mr. Brandt has given a notice of the bird in Tchithatskoff, 

 <Voy. Scientif. Altai,' p. 418." 



The present bird is the sixth species of the genus with which I am acquainted as inhabiting the Old 

 World: to these must be added the Cinclus Americanus, of the north-west parts of North America, and the 

 two little species found in the Andes, and the group will then be raised to nine. What important additions, 

 then, have lately been made to a genus formerly so limited in extent ! and how greatly has our knowledge 

 of ornithology been increased in this as well as in every other direction ! 



Crown of the head ashy-brown, becoming paler on the sides and nape of the neck ; back brown ; wings 

 and tail greyish brown ; chin, throat, and abdomen white ; flanks and vent brown ; under tail-coverts grey, 

 tipped with white ; bill olive-black ; feet brown ; lighter on the front of the tarsi and toes. 



The figures are about the natural size. 







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