7 CP ae ik oe aa wa (e ‘ J Ton 7 n . 7 A Va Ae Shope ROM MOM” Ci awoep rr ono, aac x r en AO oA WOW CBA Te woyes 2) Ws ONE VO BN Soran sas _— — A tA Gy PAS A TPL es Ls ‘ et p. rd Oe Pe ae BS br Pim eS CS El ea ee) 2 a Ba SS CINCLUS PALLAST, Temm. Pallas’s Water-Ouzel. Sturnus cinclus, var., Pallas. Cinclus Pallasit, Temm. Man. d’Orn., tom. iii. p. 107.—Gould, Birds of Europe, vol. ii. pl. 85.—Temm. et Schleg. Faun. Jap. p. 68, tab. xxxi. B. Hydrobata Pallasit, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 215, Hydrobata, sp. 3. Cinclus pallasi, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 252, Cinelus, sp. 4. Tue discovery of this species is said to be due to the researches of Professor Pallas ; and it is well that one who did so much for natural history should have his name perpetuated by having so interesting a bird named in honour of him. ‘To myself the Water-ouzels have at all times been a group of birds of especial interest ; and there are many associations connected with them which must be pleasing to every one, especially when we consider how romantic are the situations they affect,—situations which the poets love to write about, and of which more anon, should I ever again undertake to describe the habits and whereabouts of our own Water-ouzel, or Dipper. Although I really have nothing to communicate respecting the habits and economy of this bird, I feel that, without overstepping the bounds of truth, I might easily describe how it lives, the situations it frequents, &c., masmuch as I feel assured that in all these respects it very closely resembles our own well-known bird ; but, in the absence of any positive information on these points, I will only affirm that, like that species, it obtains its food by diving to the bottoms of rocky streams and pebbly rivers. I am also unable to say whether this bird inhabits Siberia or the continent of Asia, or if it be an island species ; and if the latter, whether Japan be or be not its exclusive habitat; certain it is that it is in that island that all the specimens which have reached this country have been collected; but it may also inhabit the island of Formosa, Mr. Swinhoe having just described a Water-ouzel from thence under the name of Hydrobata marila, which I think is likely to be identical with the present species. There appears to be no difference in the colouring of the sexes, both being clothed in a uniform but darker style of plumage than the C. Ascaticus, the darker hue being especially noticeable on the head, throat, and centre of the breast, which parts are of the same hue as the other parts of the body in its near ally. I am indebted to the Trustees of the Derby Museum at Liverpool for the loan of the fine specimen of this bird from which my figure was taken. The entire plumage very dark chocolate-brown, becoming nearly black on the head, back, breast and under surface ; wings and tail dark chocolate washed with grey; bill olive-black ; feet blackish brown; fore part of the tarsi and toes paler. The Plate represents the two sexes of the size of life. rors NANA