CINCLUS PALLASI, Temm.
Pallas’s Water-Ouzel.
Sturms cinclus, var., Pallas.
Cinclus Pallasii, Temm. Man. d’Orn., tom. iii. p. 107.—Gould, Birds of Europe, vol. ii. pi. 85.—Temm. et Schleg.
Faun. Jap. p. ”68, tab. xxxi. B.
Hydrobata Pallasii, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 215, Hydrobata, sp. 3.
Cinclus pattasi, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 252, Cinclus, sp. 4.
T h e discovery of this species is said to be due to the researches o f 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 in te rest;
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 o f this bird, I feel that,
without overstepping the bounds of truth, I might easily describe how it lives, the situations it frequents,
See., inasmuch as I feel assured that in all these respects it very closely resembles our own well-known b ird ;
but, in the absence o f 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 h abitat; 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 ju st 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. Asiaticus, 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 a t 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 g re y ; bill olive-black; feet blackish brown; fore
p art of the tarsi and toes paler.
The Plate represents the two sexes of the size of life.