TURDID^]. 149 



FAMILY II. 



TuRDiD.E. lice Thrvahes. 



Gen. Charac. — Bill of various lengths, and more or less strong, with the 

 eiUmeu generally keeled, curved, and the sides compressed to the tip, which 

 is emarginated ; the nostrils lateral, basal, and generally protected by a 

 membranous scale ; the winga more or less long and rounded or pointed ; 

 the tail mostly of moderate length ; the tarsi more or less short, and usually 

 covered with transverse scales ; the toes of various lengths, and the outer 

 toe generally longer than the inner one. 



These birds are distributed in all parts of the 

 world. Their food consists principally of insects^ 

 worms, and terrestrial mollusca, and also partly of 

 fruits. Many of them possess gTcat power of song. 



This family includes the Ant -Thrushes, the 

 Thrushes, the Babblers, the Orioles, and the 

 Bulbuls. 



