186 AMERICAN DIPPER. 



which are slightly decurved. Legs feathered to the joint, but the tarsus 

 entirely bare. 



Bill brownish-black; iris hazel; feet flesh-coloured, toes dusky towards 

 the end; claws yellowish-grey. The general colour of the plumage is 

 blackish-grey or deep bluish-grey; the head and neck chocolate-brown, that 

 colour extending lower on the fore part of the neck than behind; the downy 

 feathers of both eyelids white; the quills and tail-feathers dusky; the 

 secondaries terminally margined with white. 



Length to end of tail 7^ inches; extent of wings 10l; wing from flexure 

 3|; tail 2|; bill along the ridge T 9 2, along the edge of lower mandible \i; 

 tarsus lyg-; hind toe T 5 2, its claw T 4 j; middle toe |§, its claw -j^-. 



Adult Female. 



The female is in all respects similar to the male. 



In form, size, and proportion, the American Dipper is almost precisely 

 similar to the European. 



Genus II.— ORPHEUS, Sivains. MOCKING-BIRD. 



Bill of moderate length or longish, rather slender, straight or slightly 

 arched, broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end, acute; 

 upper mandible with the ridge rather narrow, the sides convex toward the 

 end, the notches very slight, the tip narrow; lower mandible with the angle 

 of moderate length, the dorsal line straight or slightly decurved toward the 

 end, the sides nearly erect, the tip narrow. Nostrils oblong, partially 

 concealed by the feathers. Head of ordinary size, ovato-oblong; neck of 

 moderate length; body rather slender. Feet of ordinary length, slender; 

 tarsus scarcely so long as the middle toe and claw; hind toe of moderate 

 length, stout, lateral toes equal; claws moderate, arched, compressed, acute. 

 Plumage soft and blended. Bristles rather long. Wings of ordinary 

 length, broad, rounded, the first quill very small, the fourth and fifth 

 longest. Tail very long, straight, much rounded, or graduated. 



