92 REVIEW OF AMERICAN BIRDS. [PART I. 



The structure of the feet, however, as far as my observations 

 extend, furnishes a good character for limiting the family, and espe- 

 cially of distinguishing it from the Turdidse. In the latter the basal 

 joint of the outer lateral toe is united to the middle toe ; sometimes 

 only a part of it and the inner toe is cleft almost to its very base, so 

 as to be opposable to the hind toe, separate from the others. la 

 the Troglodi/tidas, on the contrary, the inner toe is united by half its 

 basal joint to the middle toe ; sometimes by the whole of this joint, 

 and the second joint of the outer toe enters wholly or partially into 

 this union, instead of the basal only. In addition to this character, 

 the open exposed nostrils, the usually lengthened bill, the generally 

 equal lateral toes, the short rounded wings, the graduated tail, etc., 

 furnish points of distinction. In the skins before me there appear 

 to be considerable ditferences in the structure and appearance of 

 the nostrils, which may serve to aid in defining the genera with con- 

 siderable precision. The exact characters, of course, cannot be very 

 readily ascertained from dried specimens, and I may have erred in 

 the interpretation of the appearances presented ; although a careful 

 examination of a large number of representatives of the species has 

 been made. All the forms agree pretty well in the character of the 

 wings and tail, which differ in relative size and in shape less than 

 in most families ; the feet are quite similar, and the bills only 

 moderately varied ; so that, without an examination of the nostrils, 

 it would be difficult to establish intelligibly some of the genera. 



In general there is a thin, vertical, imperforate septum in the 

 median plane of the nose, separating the nasal cavities of opposite 

 sides. Some skins of Campylorhynchus exhibit an aperture in this 

 septum, but I am unable to satisfy myself that this has not been 

 caused artificially by passing a string through the nostrils to fasten 

 the two jaws together. Besides this, however, there is what may 

 be called the lateral septum (a modification of the turbinated bones 

 of the nose) on either side of the median, which either projects a 

 short distance into the posterior portion of the nasal cavity, with a 

 nearly vertical edge (seen in Tfiryothorus) , or is continued along 



1861, 147, no. 891.— Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lye. VII, 292.— Cad. 

 & Hein. M. H. II, 1859, 23. 

 TurJus vulpinus, Haktl. R. Zool. 1849, 276.— Ib. P. Z. S. 1850, 276, plate. 



Originally described from Venezuela and Caraccas, Mr. Lawrence has 

 received it from the line of the Panama R. R., while the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution possesses specimens from Colima and Mazatlan. A note liy Col. Gray- 

 son, attached to a Mazatlan skin, states that it is one of tlie sweetest singers 

 of that viciuitj, fully equal in this respect to any species of Thrush, 



