TROGLODYTID.E THE WEENS AND MOCKiNG-THRUSHES. 89 



"In the Turdidce the basal joint of the outer lateral toe is united 

 to the middle toe, sometimes only a part of it ; and the inner toe 

 is cleft almost to its very base, so as to be opposable to the hind 

 toe, separate from the others. In the Troglodytidce, on the contrary, 

 the inner toe is united by half its basal joint to the middle toe, 

 sometimes by the whole of this joint; and the second joint of the 

 outer enters wholly or partially into this union, instead of the basal 

 joint only. In addition to this character, the open, exposed nos- 

 trils, the usually lengthened bill, the generally equal lateral toes, 

 the short rounded wings, the graduated tail, etc., furnish points of 

 distinction." (Hist. N. Am. B.) 



In several genera which unquestionably belong to this family, 

 (Salpinctes, Campylorliynclius, etc.) the postero-lateral plates of the 

 tarsal envelope are divided, much as in the Larks and tracheophone 

 Passeres (Dcndrocolaptidce and Formicariidie) , and with the Larks, 

 are the only members of the Oscines which have these plates thus 

 divided. It will therefore be seen that Stmdevall's primary division 

 of the Oscines into two groups based upon this character "Lamini 

 plantares," to include those which have these plates undivided (as- 

 sumed by the author in question to include all oscinine families ex- 

 cept the Larks), and " Scutiplantares" to include those with these 

 plates divided (including the Alaudidce alone), is hardly warranted by 

 the facts in the case. 



North American Genera and Subgenera of Troglodytinae. 



a. 1 Wing more than 3.00 inches Campylorhynchus. 



,- Wing loss than 3.00 inches. 



6 1 . Outer toe much longer than the inner. 



c 1 . Culmen equal to tarsus, depressed at base Catherpes. 



c 2 . Culmen shorter than tarsus, compressed at base Salpinctes. 



b-. Outer toe not distinctly longer than the inner. 



c 1 . Tail moderately graduated, or rounded, the tips of the lower coverts 



falling far short of the ends of the lateral rectrices. 

 cZ, 1 Gonys concave, the maxilla decidedly, though gently, decurved 



at tip Thryothorus. 



e 1 . Tail much shorter than wing. Bill stouter, the culmen mod- 

 erately compressed at base. (Subgeuus Thryothorus). 



e". Tail equal to or longer than wing. Bill slender, the culmen 



much compressed at base (Submenus Thryomanes). 



d". Gonys straight, the maxilla scarcely decurved at tip , Troglodytes. 



e 1 . Culmen decidedly curved, the bill stouter. Tail nearly or 



quite as long as wing (Subgenus Troglodytes). 



e*. Culmen straight, the bill subulate. Tail much shorter than 



wing (Subgenus Anorthoura) . 



