346 PALLAS DIPPER. 
tion of birds, this genus being one of the twenty-five European 
enumerated in our Observations as not known to inhabit this 
of them difficult, and it is probable that in three or four will be com- 
prised the whole of the nearly nominal species at present recorded. 
The various generic names that have been given to these birds, with the 
changes of place in the different systems, at once pronounce it a form of 
no ordinary interest ; and there is perhaps none that shows so much 
combination between the truly aquatic birds and those of the incessores. 
The peculiar form is familiar to most persons at all conversant with 
birds, and has been detailed in the description ; the habits, however, 
are not so easily observed. The present remarks will be confined to the 
species of Great Britain, which, I believe, may stand as typical of the 
genus. 
The common water crow, or pyet, is abundant on most of the more 
alpine and rugged streams of Scotland and North of England, enliven- 
ing the picturesque and sometimes solitary scenery by its clean and 
cheerful appearance, or associating more sedate recollections with the 
low and pensive melody of its song. They live generally in pairs, 
keeping entirely to the line of the brook ; and in their flight fly directly 
up or down, with a rapid motion of the wings, uttering a single mono- 
tonous alarm note, and when about to alight, fall, or splash as it were, 
in the stream, and swim to shore. Previous to the season of incuba- 
tion, they become more noisy. The nest is formed exactly like that of 
the common wren, with a single entrance, and is' composed of the 
ordinary mosses found near the stream, without much lining. It is 
generally placed under a projecting rock, a few yards above the water, 
and often where a fall rushes over, in which situation the parent birds 
must dash through it to gain the nest, which they do with apparent 
facility, and even seem to enjoy it. At night they roost in similar 
situations, perched, with the head under the wing, on some little pro- 
jection, often so much leaning as to appear hanging with the back 
downwards. I recollect a bridge over a rapid stream, which used to 
be a favourite nightly retreat, under the arch ; I have there seen four 
at a time sitting asleep in this manner, and used to take them with a 
light. Before settling for their nightly rest, they would sport in the 
pool beneath, chasing each other with their shrill and rapid cry, and at 
last suddenly mount to their perch ; when disturbed, they would return 
again in five minutes. During winter, they migrate to the lower 
stream ;—flowing into the Annan, in Dumfriesshire, there are many 
alpine tributary rivulets where these birds are abundant in summer ; 
during winter they remove almost entirely to the latter, where they 
find a more abundant supply of food, and their aquatic powers are more 
easily observed. On every reach one or two may be seen perched upon 


