4 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



long and pointed, with small first primary (less than one fourth the second) ; wings con- 

 siderably longer than the tail, which is firm, nearly even, with broad feathers. Tarsi 

 variable, selilom as long as the skull, the scutellas fused into a continuous plate, only in 

 rare individual instances showing indications of the lines of separation. 



The geuus Twrdus is very cosmopolitan, occurring nearly tlirougliout tlie 

 globe, excepting in Australia, and embraces species of highest perfection 

 as singers.' In the large number of species known there are many varia- 

 tions in external form, but tlie transition from one to the other is so gradual 

 as to render it very difficult to separate them into different genera. The 

 sections of the group we adopt are the following : — 



Sexes similar. 



Hylocichla. Smallest species. Bill short, broad at base ; much depressed. Tarsi long and 

 slender, longer than middle toe and claw, by the additional length of the idaw ; outstretehed 

 legs reaching nearly to ti)i of tail. Body slender. Color : above olivaceous or reddish, beneath 

 ivliitisli ; bri.-ast spotted ; throat without spots. 



Turdus. Bill stouter and higher. Tarsi stout and short, scarcely longer than niicblle toe and 

 elaw. Body stout, generally whitish beneath and spotted. (.Second cpiill longer than lifth ?) 



Flanesticus. Similar to preceding. (Second ipiill shorter than fifth ?) Beneath mostly 

 uni-colored ; unstreaked except the throat, which is whitish with dark streaks. 



Sexes dissimilar. 



Mernla. Similar to Turdus. Male usually more or less black, especially on the head ; 

 females brownish, often with streaked throats. Bill distinctly notched. 



Hesperocichla. Similar to Tardus. Male reddish beneatli, with a black collar. Bill 

 without notch. 



Subgenus HYLOCICHLA, B.vird. 



Hylocichla, B.\iRi) (s. g.). Rev. Am. iUrd^, 1»()4, 12. ('I'yi"', Turdus mustclinus.) 



The essential characters of Hylocichla have already been given. 



The 



subgenus includes the small North 

 American species, with Turdus mus- 

 trli/ius, Gm., at the head as type, 

 wliicli are closely connected on tlie 

 one side with C'atharus, by their 

 lengthened tarsi, and with Turdus 

 by the shape of the wing. Tlie 

 bnis are shorter, more depressed, 

 and broader at base than in typi- 

 cal Turdus, so much so that the 

 species have frequently been de- 

 scribed under ihuricajm. 



It is not at all improbable that 



naturalists may ultimately conclude to consider the group as of generic 



rank. 



In this group there appears to be five well-marked forms or "species." 



They are, viustelinus, Gm., 2><^dlasi, Caban., fusccscens, Steph., swaiiisoni. 



Turdus mustdinus. 



