PALLAS’ DIPPER. 
alighting, reappearing at a distance. When on their favourite 
rocks, these birds are constantly dipping in the water, at the 
same time flirting their erected tail. While on the wing they 
utter a feeble cry, their voice being weak and shrill, but some¬ 
what varied, and they sing from their perch, not loud, but sweetly, 
even in the depth of winter. Early in the spring they begin to 
utter clear and distinct notes, and are among the first to cheer 
the lonely and romantic haunts which they frequent, with their 
simple, melody. 
These birds, like others that live about the water, pair early, 
and have two broods in the season. The young can leave their 
nest before being full-fledged, and at the approach of danger, 
drop from the height where it is generally placed, into the water. 
In order that this may be done, they build in some place over¬ 
hanging the water, the ledge of a rock, or the steep bank of a 
rivulet; or sometimes, in inhabited countries, take advantage 
of mills, bridges, or other works of man. The nest is large, 
composed of moss, and vaulted above; the eggs are from four to 
six, and of a milky white. Though very carefully hid, it may be 
easily discovered by the incessant chirping of the young. 
Having seen nothing but the dried skin of the American Dipper, 
and being utterly unacquainted with its habits, we have been 
describing as common to the genus those of the European species, 
which are well known, and which we have stopped to watch and 
admire among the precipices of the Alps and Appennines, where 
it struggles with the steepest and most noisy cascades, and the 
wildest torrents. The exceedingly great similarity of form in the 
two species strongly warrants the belief of equal similarity in 
habits. The more uniform and cinereous hue of the American, 
the want of reddish, but especially the striking absence of the 
white on the throat and breast, are the sole, but sufficient marks 
* ^ 1 • 
of difference between the two species. 
VOL. hi.—b 
