347. Hydrobata Asiatica, Swainson.

Cinclus Pallasii apud Gould, Cent. H. B., pl. 24 - C. tenuirostris, Gould apud Bonap. - C. maculatus, Hodgs., Gray, Zool. Misc. (young) - Blyth, Cat. 913 - Horsf., Cat. 251 - Nambong karriak, Lepch. - Chubia nakka, Bhot.

THE Brown Water-ouzel.

Descr. - Plumage uniform dull brown; bill black; legs pale brown; soles of the feet yellow; irides dark brown.

Length about 8 1/4 inches ; wing 4 ; tail 2 ; bill at front 13/16; tarsus 1 3/4.

The young bird is mottled and spotted with dusky and whitish ; the wings are edged with white, and the tail has a narrow white tip ; the whole plumage being remarkably like that of a young or emale Petrocincla. It differs from the true Pallasii of Temminck, from E. Siberia and Japan, according to Bonaparte, in being paler in color, and with the bill much more slender.

The Indian Dipper is found throughout the Himalayas, frequenting streams and  rivers. It is not rare at Darjeeling, in the Rungnoo, the Little Rungeet, but especially in the Great Rungeet river; and from 1,200 to 5,000 feet of elevation. You generally see it perched on a rock, in the middle or side of a stream, or flying rapidly along the course of the stream. I once surprized one in a pool of shallow water in the bed of the Rungeet, which I came on suddenly, and from out of which it rose, as much to my astonishment as its own. I afterwards saw it on several occasions plunge into the water, both, from the bank, and from a rock, and remain some time under water, issuing forth at a distance from the spot where it had entered. It feeds on various water-insects and larvae; also shells, when it can get them, and, it is said, the ova of fishes. It must breed very early in the season, for I procured some young specimens in March and April.