78 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



FAMILY PARIDJE. THE TITMICE AND NUTHATCHES. 



t CHARACTERS. Bill more or less conical, without notch, the nasal feathers directed for- 

 ward and usually concealing the nostrils. Size small (wing less than four inches long.) 

 Tarsi distinctly scutellate. 



The above characters are drawn up to include Chamaa, whose 

 claim to a place in the Family Paridae is a matter of serious doubt. 

 Sitta, although appearing so very distinct from the typical Paridce 

 is yet so closely connected through Palrearctic forms of the latter 

 (as Parus varius of Japan) that there can be no doubt of its belong- 

 ing to the same family. 



The North American subfamilies, including Chamcea, may be de- 

 nned as follows: 



a. 1 Bill stout, much shorter than head. Tail about as long as the wing, or 



longer. Hallux shorter than middle toe. 

 &. 1 Nostrils concealed by feathers. Tarsus with anterior covering seu- 



tellate on outer side Parinae. 



b." Nostrils exposed. Tarsus with anterior covering fused on outer side . . Chamseinae . 

 a. 2 Bill slender, as long as the head. Tail much shorter than the wing. Hallux 



longer than middle toe Sittinae. 



SUBFAMILY PARING. The Titmice. 



This subfamily, as above characterized, includes three North 

 American Genera, which may be denned as follows : 



a 1 . Bill with either the culmen or gonys decidedly convex. Nostrils wholly 

 concealed. Plumage very lax. 



b l . Tail about eaual to or not much longer than wing, rounded Parus. 



c 1 . Head not crested (Subgenus Parus.) 



c". Head crested (Subgenus Lophophanes.) 



1)-. Tail much longer than wing, graduated Psaltriparus . 



a 2 . Bill with both culmen and gonys nearly straight, the tip acute. Nostrils 



partly exposed. Plumage rather compact Auriparus. 



The genera Psaltriparus and Auriparus, as well as the subfamily 

 Chamceince (the latter including the single genus Chamcea), are extra- 

 limital, belonging to the southwestern portions of the United States. 



GENUS PARUS LINNAEUS. 

 SUBGENUS Lophophanes KAUP. 



Lophophanes KAUP, Entw. Gesch. Europ. Thier. 1829. Type, Parus cristatus LINN. 



Bceolophus CABINIS, Mus. Hein. 1850. 1351, 91. Type, Parus bicolor LlNN. 



"GEN. CHAB. Crown with a conspicuous crest. Bill conical; both upper and lower 

 outlines convex. Wings graduated; first quill very short. Tail moderately long and 

 rounded. Nests in hollow trees; eggs white with tine red dottings." (Hist. N. Am. B.) 



