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FAMILY XII. TURDIN^E. THRUSHES. 



Bill short, or of moderate length, rather strong, straight, compressed 

 toward the end; upper mandible with its dorsal outline a little convex and 

 declinate, the tip small, rather acute, the notches small; lower mandible with 

 the angle rather short, of moderate width, the dorsal line straight, the sides 

 convex, the tip acute. Head oblong, compressed, of moderate size; neck 

 rather short; body moderate. Eyes of moderate size. External aperture 

 of ear large and roundish. Feet of moderate strength; tarsus compressed, 

 with seven anterior scutella; toes rather strong, compressed; first, second, 

 and fourth, nearly equal, third much longer, and adherent to the fourth at 

 the base; claws rather long, arched, compressed, laterally grooved, acute. 

 Plumage rather blended. Bristles small. Wings of moderate length, broad, 

 rounded; the firft quill very small, third and fourth longest. Tail of twelve 

 feathers, varying in length. Tongue sagittate, and papillate at the base, 

 slender, tapering, its tip slit. Oesophagus rather narrow, without crop; pro- 

 ventriculus oblong; stomach a gizzard of moderate strength, its lateral and 

 lower muscles distinct; the epithelium dense and rugous; intestine of mode- 

 rate length; coeca very small, cylindrical. Trachea simple, with four pairs 

 of inferior laryngeal muscles. 



Genus I.— CINCLUS, Bechst. DIPPER. 



Bill rather short, slender, slightly ascending, much compressed toward the 

 end; upper mandible with its dorsal line straight until toward the end, the 

 ridge rounded, the sides convex, the edges somewhat inflected, with an 

 obscure notch close to the narrow deflected tip; lower mandible slightly bent 

 upwards, the angle medial and very narrow, the dorsal line ascending and 

 slightly convex, the tip narrow and rather acute. Nostrils linear, direct, 

 exposed. General form short, full, and compact. Head oblong, compressed. 

 Legs strong; tarsus of moderate length, compressed, covered anteriorly with 

 a long undivided plate and four inferior scutella; toes rather large and strong; 

 claws arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, that of the hind toe 

 considerably larger. Plumage ordinary, rather blended. Bristles obsolete. 

 Wings rather short, convex, rounded. Tail short, even. 



Vol. II. 32 



