INTRODUCTION. xxi 



Keeurriug now to cousideratiou of the Xurtli Aiuerican Fnuti/ifs of the 

 foregoiug higher groups, I take up the latter in the natural order in which 

 they have been presented, giving under head of each such group an analysis 

 of the North American families by which it is re^jresented, reiterating the 

 caution that the characters are drawn up only with reference to the North 

 American genera, and are, consequently, not necessarily or always applicable 

 upon wider considerations. These analyses are made as nearly natural as 

 the state of the case permits, but I seize upon any obvious external char- 

 acters which may be afforded, without regard to their morphological sig- 

 nificance or taxonomic value. 



AN.A.LYSIS OF THE F.\MILIES OF PASSERES. 



A. Oscines. ilu.sical apparatus highly developed. Back of tarsus undivided, 

 or I'omied ul' a few suutella distinct from those lapping over the front. First 

 primary wanting, spurious, or at most not over two thirds tlie length of the 

 longest. 



a. Each side of tarsus covered with a plate undivided in most or all of its 

 length, and meeting its fellow in a sharp ridge behind. 

 6. Primaries only nine. 



c. Bill triangular, depressed, about as wide at Ijase as long; the 

 gape twice as long as the culmen, reaching to about opposite the 

 • eyes ; tomia straight or gently curved. No obvious rictal bristles. 



Tarsi not longer than the lateral toe and claw. Wings long and 

 pointed, the first primary equal to or longer than the second. Cen- 

 tral tail-feathers not half as long as the wing . . . Hinmdinidce. 

 cc. Bill variously conico-elongate or slender, or, if depressed, with 

 long rictal bristles ; gape not nearly twice as long as culmen ; tomia 

 straight or gently curved. Nostrils not obviously nearer culmen 

 than tomia. Tarsus longer than lateral toe and claw. 



Bill very slender, acute ; culmen rather concave at base. Lon- 

 gest secondary acuminate, nearly or quite equal to the primaries 

 in the closed wing. Hind claw little curved, about twice as long 

 as the middle claw. Hind toe and claw longer than middle toe 



and claw Molacillidce. 



Bill variously conico-elongate and acute; culmen not concave 

 at base. Longest secondary not acuminate, falling far short of 

 primaries in the closed wing. Hind claw well curved, not nearly 

 twice as long as middle claw ; hind toe and claw not longer than 

 middle toe and claw. Gape ample ; tongue slightly bifid or 



brushy, if at all Sylvicolidce. 



Bill lengthened, very acute, even decurved. Wings and feet as 

 in the last. Gape constricted ; tongue generally deeply bifid 



or brushy Carebidce. 



ccc. Bill more or less truly conic, usually .<ihort, thick; commissure 

 usually more or less evidently aljruptly angulated near the base, or 

 with lobe or tooth further forward. Nostrils oliviously nearer cul- 

 men tlian tomia. Tarsus longer than lateral toe and claw.' 



^ In the tnie conirostral or fringillifonii genera the under mandible has high strong tomia, bont 

 nt an angle near the base ; the coiTPsjionding portion of the ii|>per mandible is doop, so that the 



