67 
THE EUROPEAN DIPPER. 
Cinclus aquaticus Bechstein. 
PLATE II. 
Cinclus aquaticus, Bechst Merula aquatica, Briss 
Sturnus cinclus, Linn Turdus cinclus, Lath. — 
Cincle plongeur, Temm Water-Ousel, Dipper, Euro- 
pean Dipper, of British authors. 
The Common Water Crow, or Pyet, as it is fami- 
liarly termed in Scotland, is a favourite with every 
one who resides near its haunts. The solitary and 
secluded nature of the streams it frequents, and 
their often wild character, render it a most fitting 
accompaniment, — sufficient to break the solitude, 
but never obtruding on the calmness of the picture; 
one of those beautiful instances of nature's chaste 
compositions, where the life of the landscape 
combines to harmonize with all around ; and here 
the effect is still more brought home by the 
simple and peculiar melody of its song. Its 
common locality in summer is rocky alpine, or 
subalpine streams, and it seems indifferent 
whether the banks are thickly clothed with wood 
and natural brush, or are bare and barren. If 
civilization has encroached on their retreats, and 
machinery or mills have been in consequence 
