Birds of America
By John James Audubon, F. R. SS. L. & E.
VOLUME II.
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.