CIXCLIIXE — THE Diri'KKS. 



55 



Family CINCLID^. — The Dippers. 



On page 2 will be found the characteristics of this family, which need not 

 be here rejieated. There is only a single genus, Cinclm, with four American 

 species, and several from Europe and Asia. 



Cindits tjifxicaniis. 



Genus CINCLUS, P.echstein. 



Hijdrohata, Vieillot, Analyse, 1810 (Ag.). — Baiud, B. N. A. 229. 



Cinclus, Bechstein, Gemein. Naturg. 1802. (Not of Moehriiig, 1752. Type Sliirniis cm- 

 cliis, L.) — Salvix, Ibi.s, 1867, 109. (Monograph.) 



Gen. CiiAn. Bill without an}' bri.stles at tliu base ; slender, subulate ; the manrlible 

 bent slightly upwaid; the culmen slightly concave to near the tip, which is much curved 



and notched ; the commissural edges of the 

 bill finely nicked towards end. Feet large 

 and strong, the toes projecting considerably 

 beyond the tail ; the claws large. Lateral 

 toes equal. Tail very short and even ; not 

 two thirds the wings, which are concave 

 and somewhat falcate. The first primary 

 is more than one fourth the longest. Eggs 

 white. 



The slightly upward bend of the 

 bill, somewhat as in jinthus, renders 

 the cnlmen concave, and the commissure slightly convex. The maxilla at 

 base is nearly as high as the man- 

 dible ; the whole l)ill is much com- 

 pressed and attenuated. The lat- 

 eral claws liarely reach the base of 

 the middle one, which is broad ; 

 tlie inner face extended into a 

 horny lamina, with one or two 

 notches or pectinations somewhat 

 as in Caprimulgidcc. The stiffened 

 sub-falcate wings are quite re- 

 markable. The tail is so short that 

 the upper coverts extend nearly to 

 its tip. 



The species are all dull-colored Inrds, usually brown, sometimes varied 

 witli wliite on the head, back, or throat. They inhal)it mountainous sub- 

 alpine regions ab(junding in rapid streams, and always attract attention 

 liy their habit of feeding under water, searching among the gravel and 

 stones for their insect prey. 



Cinclus mexicamts. 



