CIXCLID.E — THE DIPPERS. 



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Famit.y CINCLIDiE. — The Dippers. 



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

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

 species, and several from Europe and Asia. 



Genus CINCLUS, Bechstein. 



Ififdrohnta, TiKii.LOT, Analyse, 1816 (Ag.). — Baird, B. N. A. 229. 



Cuidus, BixHsTi-iN, vNinein. Naturg. 1802. (Not ol" Moehiing, 17r»2. Type Sfumus cin. 

 cIks, L.) — Salvix, Ibis, 18»)7, 109. (Moiiograi)h.) 



(Ikn. Ciiau. Bill witliont any bristU-s at i\w base; slendiM-, subulate; the mandible 

 bent slightly upward; the cuhuen 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 eipial. Tail very short and even ; not 

 two thirds the wings, which are concave 

 and somewhat falcate. The first primary 

 io more than cue fourth the longest 

 white. 



Eggs 



Cinclus mexkanus. 



The slightly upward bend of the 

 bill, somewhat as mAnthiu^, renders 

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

 base is nearly as high as the man- 







dible ; the whole bill is much com- 

 pressed and attenuated. The Lit- 

 eral claws barely reach the base of 

 the middle one, which is broad ; 

 the inner face extended into a 

 horny lamina, with one or two 

 notclies or pectinations somewhat 

 as in C(iprim}iJfjid(r. The stiffened 

 sub- falcate wings are quite re- 

 markable. The tail is so short that 

 the upj)er coverts extend nearly to 



its tip. Cinclus mexicanus. 



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

 with white on the head, back, or throat. They inhabit mountainous sul>- 

 alpine regions abounding in rapid streams, and always attmct attention 

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

 stones for their insect prey. 



