xxiv NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



the length of the latter ; tip formed by second, third, 

 and fourtji quills; outer secondary reaching only 

 about two thirds way to end of longest primary ; 

 spurious quill very short. Tarsi booted . . SaxicolidcB. 



Nostrils oval. Bristles or bristly points about the 

 mouth. AVings moderate, not reaching, when folded, 

 beyond the middle of the tail, and not over one and 

 a third times as long as the latter ; tip formed by thii-d 

 to sixth quill ; outer secondary reaching in closed 

 wing three fourths or more the length of the longest 

 primary. Spurious quill longer, sometimes one half 

 the second. Tarsi scutellate in MiminCE, booted in 



TurdinCE Turdidm. 



aa. Outside of tarsus covered with two series of scutella, — one lapping en- 

 tirely around in front, the other entirely around l.iehind, and meeting at a 

 groove on the inside ; hind edge blunt. First primary spurious or apparently 

 wanting. Hind claw much lengthened, scarcely curved. Nostrils with 



antrorse bristly feathers. Bill conico-elongate Alaiidida:. 



B. Clamatores. Outside of tarsus covered with a series of plates variously 

 arranged, lapping entirely around in front and behind, to meet at a groove on 

 the inner side. 



First primary lengthened, often longest, at least over two thirds as long as the 

 longest. Bill broad at the base, much depressed, tapering to a fine point, which 

 is abruptly decurved ; culmen rounded or flattened ; gonys flattened ; commissure 

 straight, or nearly so, to the tip. Nostrils small, circular, basal ; overhung, but 

 not concealed by bristles. Mouth capacious, with broad and deeply fissured 

 rictus, beset with numerous long strong bristles. Feet small, weak. Tail of 

 twelve feathers Tyrannidm. 



Analysis of toe F.vmiliks oi PICARLffl. 



Secondaries only six. 



Bill tenuirostral, longer than head, nearly cylindrical. Gape constricted. 

 Tongue filiform, extensile, bi-tubular. Wings long in terminal portion, ab- 

 breviated proximally, acute. Plumage compact, of metallic sheen. Size 



smallest of all birds. (Humming-Birds.) Trochilidce. 



Secondaries more than six. 



Feet syndactyle by conuation of outer and middle toes. 



Outer toe much longer than the inner, united for half its length with 

 the middle, forming a broad sole. Tibia; naked below. Bill longer 

 than head, straight, acute, with hard cutting edges and ample rictus. 

 Tongue rudimentary, fixed. Wings pointed, much longer than the short 

 square tail. Tail-feathers twelve. Plumage compact, oily. (King- 

 fishers.) ............ Alcedinidce. 



Feet zygodactyle' by reversion of outer or fourth toe. 



Not scansorial ; tail of eight or ten long soft feathers. Bill with de- 

 curved tip, not fitted for hammering; rictus ample. Tongue not ex- 

 tensile nor vermiform nor barbed. Salivary glands and hyoidean appa- 

 ratus not peculiar. No nasal tufts of feathers. Arboreal and terrestrial. 

 (Cuckoos.) Cuculidce. 



1 Excepting Picoicles, in which the true hind toe (hallux) is wanting ; the outer or fouith toe 

 bi'iug, however, reversed as usual, and taking the place of the hind toe. 



