13*2 
DIPPER. 
DIDAPPER. — A name for the Dabchick. 
DIPPER {Cinclus aquaticus, Bechstein.) 
*Cinclus aquaticus, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. 3. p. 808. — Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. 1. 
p. 207 — Sturnus Cinclus,, Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 803. — Lvmi. Syst. 1. p. 290. 5. 
Turdus Cinclus, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. p. 343. sp. 57 — Merula aquatica, Briss. 
5. p. 252. 19 Rail, Syn. p. 66. A. 7. — Will. p. 104. t. 24 — Le Merle d’Eau, 
Buff. Ois. 8. p. 134. t. 11 Ib. pi. Enl. 940 — Cincle plongeur, Man. 
d’Orn. 1. p. 177. — Wasser Spreauw, Sepp. Nerderl. Vog. 1. t. p. 25 Water 
Ouzel, Br. Zool.2. No. Ill Arct. Zool. 2. p. 332. 8 Will. (Angl.)p. 149. 
, — Leiviu’s Br. Birds, 2.t. 63 Lath. Syn. 3. p. 48. 50 Ib. Supp. p. 142 
Mont. Orn. Diet — Ib. Supp. and App. to Supp. — Wale. Syn. 2. t. 196 Don. 
Br. Birds, t. 24. — Bewick’s Br. Birds, 2. p. 16. — Selby, pi. 45. p. 62. 
Provincial. — Water- Crow. Water-Piet. Bessy-Ducker.* 
This singular bird, according* to the later authors, is placed in the 
thrush g*enus, to v/hich it certainly has more affinity than to the stare. 
It is less than the blackbird ; leng*th seven inches and a half. The bill 
is three quarters of an inch long*, nearly strait, black ; the upper man- 
dible a little turned down at the points ; irides hazel ; upper part of the 
head and neck deep brown ; the eyelids, chin, fore part of the neck, and 
breast, white, beneath which is a band of rufous-brown ; the rest of the 
upper parts, the belly, vent, and tail, are black ; the feathers on the 
back and wing*s are edged with ash-colour ; legs black ; the tail much 
shorter than is usual in the thrushes. 
This species is a retired solitary bird, rarely seen but on the banks 
of rapid rocky rivers, or streams of water, particularly in the moun- 
tainous parts, as in Scotland and Wales : it is not unfrequent in Devon- 
shire. 
In these places it breeds, and continues the whole year. The nest is 
very large, formed of moss and water-plants externally, and lined with 
dry oak-leaves : in shape it resembles that of the wren, but is not so deep, 
with a dome or covering : it is usually placed in some mossy bank im- 
pending the water, in which situation we have frequently found it. 
The eggs are five or six in number, of a semi-transparent white. The 
tinge of bluish colour which they are said to have, is occasioned by 
the yolk, and disappears when they are blown. These are considerably 
less than those of the blackbird ; their weight rather more than one 
dram. 
A pair of these birds, which had for many years built under a small 
wooden bridge in Caermarthenshire, we found had made a nest early in 
May. It was taken, but had no eggs, although the bird flew out of it 
at the time. In a fortnight after they had completed another nest in 
the same place, containing five eggs, which was taken ; and in a month 
after we took a third nest under the same bridge, with four eggs ; un- 
doubtedly the work of the same birds, as no others were seen about 
that part. At the time the last nest was taken the female was sitting. 
