488 MOUNTAIN MOCKING BIRD. 
Bill of moderate length, rather slender, compressed, straightish, 
pointed ; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly declinato-ar- 
cuate, the sides convex toward the end, the edges sharp, with a slight 
sinus close to the narrow declinate tip; lower mandible with the angle 
short and narrow, the dorsal line straight, the edges sharp and a little 
declinate at the end, the tip narrow; the gape-line very slightly 
arched. 
Head oblong, of ordinary size ; neck rather short, but somewhat 
slender. Feet longish, rather strong ; tarsus compressed, anteriorly 
covered with seven large scutella, sharp-edged behind ; toes of mode- 
rate length, slender, the hind toe stout, the lateral nearly equal, the 
anterior united for a short space at the base. Claws slender, arched, 
compressed, acute. 
Plumage soft and blended. Wings of moderate length, rounded, 
the first quill short, the third and fourth longest, the second and fifth 
equal, and about a quarter of an inch shorter than the fourth. Tail 
long, rounded, of twelve rather narrow rounded feathers. 
Bill dark-brown, the base of the lower mandible paler. Feet yel- 
lowish-brown, claws dusky. ‘The general colour of the upper parts is 
greyish-brown, the tips of the secondary coverts, the edges of the pri- 
mary quills, and a large spot at the end of the three lateral tail-fea- 
thers, white; the lower parts whitish, marked with triangular dusky 
spots, of which there is a distinct line from the base of the bill; the 
throat, the middle of the breast, the abdomen, and lower tail-coverts 
unspotted. 
Length to end of tail 8 inches, to end of wings 52; wing from 
flexure 3;% ; tail 3}; bill along the ridge 74; tarsus 1;% ; hind toe 7, 
its claw 34; middle toe 3%, its claw #4. 
