FORMICARIN^. 



Hydrobata Vieill.* 



Bill moderate, slender, and slightly bent upward, with the culmen straight but curved, and the sides 

 compressed to the tip, which is slightly emarginated ; the gonys long and ascending ; the nostrils 

 lateral, and placed in a membranous groove, with the frontal plumes projecting to the opening, which 

 is lunate and exposed. Wings moderate and rounded, with the first quill spurious, the second rather 

 shorter than the third and fourth, which are the longest. Tail very short and nearly even. Tarsi as 

 long as the middle toe, and covered in front with an entire scale. Toes moderate, with the outer toe 

 rather longer than the inner, and united at the base ; the claws rather long, curved, compressed, and 

 acute. 



The species that compose this genus are found in Europe, Asia, and America. They generally live singly or in 

 pairs in the mountainous districts, and always on the borders of streams. They dive below the surface, and are capable 

 of remaining submerged for some time, while occupied in pursuing the larva? of insects. In general they are seen 

 perched on some projecting stone in the middle of the water, and are constantly in motion, at the same time moving 

 their tail, which is usually carried rather erect, upwards and downwards. The nest is generally built on a projecting 

 rock over the stream, and is composed outwardly of moss, fined with the decayed leaves of trees. The eggs are four or 

 five in number. 



1. H. cinelus (Linn.) PI. enl. 940. — Cinclus aquaticus Bechst.; 

 Hydrobata albicollis Vieill. ; C. europseus Steph. Gould, B. of Eur. 

 pi. 83. 



2. ? H. melanogaster (Temm.) Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 84. 



3. H. Pallasii (Temm.) Man. d'Ornith. p. ., Gould, B. of Eur. 

 pi. 85. 



4. ? H. asiatica (Swains.) Faun. Bor. Amer. 11. p. 174. — Cin- 

 clus Pallasii Gould, Cent, of B. pi. 



5. H. unicolor (Pr. Bonap,) — Cinclus Pallasii Pr. Bonap. Amer. 

 Orn. pi. 16. f. 1.; C. americanus et C. mexicanus Swains. Audub. 

 B. of Amer. pi. 370. 



6. H. leucocephala (Tschudi), Fauna Peruana, p. 19. 



* Vieillot established this genus in 1816 (Analyse, cfc. p. 42.). It was originally formed by Bechstein, under the name of Cinclus, in 

 1802; but that word was employed by Moehring, 1752. 



December, 1 846. 



