340 KNOWING BIRDS THROUGH STORIES 



SruRNiDiE — Starlings. 



Plumage more or less metallic ; bill more or less flattened at the 

 ba^se of the upper mandible; wings long and pointed, the first primary 

 less than half an inch long. 



SiTTiDiE — Nuthatches. 



Small birds with slender bills; nostrils more or less covered with a 

 tuft of bristly feathers: wings long, the first primary less than an 

 inch in length ; the tail short ; the hind toe longer than the outer 

 anterior toe. 



CoRViD^ — Crows and Tays. 



Size moderate or large, the length of wing more than 4 inches; the 

 nostrils quite covered with a tuft of bristles, or else circular, or else 

 the base of culmen broad and flattened feet and legs stout; tail more 

 or less rounded; first primary one-half inch or more shorter than the 

 second. 



MiMiD^ — Thrashers and Mocking Birds. 



Size moderate, the birds from about 8 to 12 inches in length; tail 

 rather long and decidedly rounded; length of wing more than 3 inches; 

 base of upper mandible not flattened; nostrils not circular nor covered 

 with bristly feathers; bill not stout, but moderately long. 



Head of Caedinai, 



