LIST AND DESCRIPTION 129 



over the State. It is a slim Sparrow-like bird with a long hind- 

 toe nail. Upper parts brownish gray; below, brownish gray, 

 streaked with black on sides of breast. Sexes are alike in plum- 

 age but vary slightly with season to a buffy appearance. Song 

 uttered while on the wing. 



700. Sprague's Pipit; "Titlark" (Anthus spraguei.) 



A common migrant in the eastern part of the State, nest- 

 ing in the western part. Very similar to the American Pipit but 

 more buffy above and below and streaked with brownish black. 



A bird of the plains with feeding habits resembling those 

 of the Horned Larks. It delivers its song while in a soaring 

 flight. Dr. Elliott Coues says, "The song itself possesses all 

 the qualities which have made the European Skylark famous." 



FAMILY CINCLID^. DIPPERS 



701. Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus unicolor.) 



The Dipper or Water Ouzel is a slate colored Thrush 

 found in South Dakota which the ordinary observer would never 

 suspect of being a Thrush. It is a bird of the mountains and of 

 the tumbling water of rock bottomed streams. Within our 

 State, therefore, it is found only in the Black Hills. These birds 

 love the rocks in midstream that are partially submerged. Here 

 they are accustomed to feed by dipping under the water with 

 head upstream. The song resembles somewhat that of the 

 Brown Thrasher but is sweeter and more subdued. 



FAMILY MIMID^. THRASHERS, MOCKING BIRDS 



702. Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus.) 



A summer resident west of the Missouri River. Smaller 

 than the Brown Thrasher. Brownish gray above; below, white, 

 streaked with black; outer tail feathers tipped with white. 



703a. Western Mocking Bird (Mimus polyglottos leucopterus.) 



South Dakota is north of the range of the Western 

 Mockers, although they are occasionally seen in the Black Hills 

 or along streams on the adjacent plains. These matchless song- 

 sters are ashy gray above and soiled white below, with wing 



