AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 87 



above amongst its many natural attractions. I have 

 a specimen, purchased of Mr. A. G. Elliot, who 

 assured me that it was shot by one Mr. G. Hurcock 

 at Blatherwycke Mill, April 29th, 1868, and that it 

 was the only specimen that had ever come into his 

 hands during a long residence at Stamford. My 

 brother tells me that he several times saw a bird of 

 this species (with which he is well acquainted) about 

 our boat-house bridge on the Nen, within some 200 

 yards of this house, in May 1876 ; the bird was also 

 often seen by two or more other persons not ac- 

 quainted with the Dipper, but whose descriptions 

 leave no doubt in my mind with regard to its species. 

 About Easter, 1850, I saw what I have no doubt 

 was a Dipper flying along the Nen a little below the 

 locality just mentioned. I was too far off to be quite 

 positive ; but the only other bird it could have been 

 is a Kingfisher, which it most certainly was not. 

 Many instances are on record of the occurrence of 

 the Black-breasted Dipper {Cincliis melanog aster), of 

 Northern Europe, in Norfolk and elsewhere in this 

 country ; but the specimen above mentioned as in 

 my possession is of the usual British form, Cinclus 

 aquaticus, with the broad chestnut breast-band, which 

 is wanting in the former race or species. 



The Dipper is very abundant in many parts of 

 England, AVales, Scotland, and Ireland, in such 

 localities as those I have above described, and is 

 probably well known to such of my readers as are 

 given to trout-fishing. The actions of this bird under 

 water are very curious ; an interesting account of 

 them will be found in Yarrell's ' British Birds,' 

 4th ed. vol. i. p. 242, which I have verified in every 

 particular from personal observation — the most ex- 



