KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF BIRDS 



45 



no distinct squarish scales, except near the toes (a very young bird 

 of this group will show scutella, but they are gradually fused together 

 as the bird grows older) — 



— Wing, 2^ or less long II. Kinglets. 



— Wing, 3 or more long I. Thrushes, etc. 



(J. Tarsus (scutellate) covered with a row of rectangular scales in front 



and behind ;'6 wing, 7-9 long; tail, 9-11 long. .XXXII. Curassows.) 

 J. Tarsus (scutellate) covered with distinct rectangular scales only 

 along the front. 1'^ '■' (K.) 

 K. Bill stout, compressed, distinctly notched and hooked at tip ; 

 nostrils and rictus with bristles ; ^ i^ j^q crest — 



— Wing, 2-3' long VIII. Vireos. 



— Wing, 3.V or more long IX. Shrikes. 



K. Bill, if hooked at tip, having the nostrils without bristles extending 



over them ; in most species the bill is not hooked. (L.) 

 L. Tail feathers acute-pointed and somewhat stiff ; i^ bill slender and 



decurved; i back mottled brown ; belly white IV. Creepers. 



L. Tail feathers rounded at tip and the outer ones white ; bill slender 

 and somewhat notched at tip; back bluish-gray ; belly white ; wing, 



2-21 long II. Gnatcatchers. 



L. Not as above, but with the tail feathers rounded at tip and soft. (M.) 

 M. Bill long and stout; nostrils covered with bristly feathers-" (ex- 

 cepting a western, dull, blue-colored jay); large birds, 10-25 long. . 



XVI. Crows, etc. 



M. Bill rather slender ; culmen more or less curved ; nasal feathers 

 not directed forwai'd over the nostrils ; tail rounded ; either small 

 birds, i-6}r long, with barred quills,-^ or large birds, 8-12 long, with 



quills not barred V. Mocking Birds, Wrens, Thrashers, etc. 



M. Bill neither notched at tip nor much decurved ; nostrils concealed 



by dense tufts of bristly feathers ; small birds, 4-7 long 



III. Nuthatches, etc. 



M. Bill with the culmen about straight ; wings about 5 long ; tail 



about 2} long and square at tip XV. Starlings. 



N. Nostrils overhung with bi'istly feathers ; tarsus (scutellate) with a 

 row of nearly square scales, behind as well as before ; i'' nail of hind 

 toe longer than the toe and nearly straight ; bill not very slender . . . 

 XVII. Larks. 



