SAXICOLID.E — THE SAXICOLAS. 



59 



Family SAXICOLIDiE. — The Saxicolas. 



The general characters of this family have already been given on p. '1, 

 as distinguislied from the Tardidu:. The relatiousliips are very close, liow- 

 ever, and but little violence would be done by making it a subfamily of 

 Tanlidm or even a group of Turdiiux;, as was done in tlie " Birds of Nortlx 

 America." 



While the group is very well represented in the Old World, America has 

 but one peculiar genus Sialia, and another Saxicula, represented by a single 

 species, a straggler, perhaps, from Greenland on the one side and Siberia on the 

 other. The diagnostic characters of these are as follows, including Turdun 

 to show the relationships of the three genera : — 



Turdus. Tarsi long-, exceeding the middle toe ; wings reaching to the middle of the tail, 

 Avhich is abont four fifths the length of the wings. Bill stout; its upper outline con- 

 vex toward the base. Second quill .shorter than fifth. 



Saxicola. Tarsi consideralily longer than the middle toe, which reaches nearly to the 

 tip of the tail. Tail short, even; two thirds as long as the lengthened wings, which 

 reach beyond the middle of the tail. Second quill longer than fifth. Bill attenuated; 

 its upper outline concave towards the ba.se. 



Sialia. Tarsi short ; about equal to the middle toe. Wings reaching beyond the middle 

 of the tail. Bill thickened. 



Genus SAXICOLA, Bechstein. 



Siixwola, Bechstf.ix, Gemeinniitzigo I^aturg. 1S02. (Type, S, cenanthe.) 

 G-EN. Char. Commissure slightly curved to the ■well-notched tip. Culmen concave for 



the basal hall', then gently decurving. 



Gonys straight. Bill slender, attenuated ; more 

 than half the length of head. Tail short, 

 broad, even. Legs considerably longer 

 than the head ; when outstretched reaching 

 nearly to the tip of tail. Third quill 

 longest ; second but little shorter. Claws 

 long, slightly curved ; hind toe rather 

 elongated. 



As already stated, America possess- 

 es but a single member of this group 

 of birds, so well represented in the Old 

 World. The color is bluish-gray, with 



wings, a stripe througli the eye, and the middle of exposed tail-feathers 



black. 



Saxicola ocnanthi- 



