BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 549 



rounded, the reotriccs broadly rounded at tip. Tarsus decidedly longer 

 than exposed culmen, one-third to more than two-lifths'^' as long as 

 wing, the acrotarsiuni distinctly seutellate, the planta tarsi ])ooted; 

 middle toe, witii ela.w, decidedly slu)rter than tarsus; outer toe slight!}' 

 longer than inner, reaching (without claw) a little ])e3'ond second 

 (suhterminal) joint of middle toe, its claw falling short of base of 

 middle claw, the inner toe reaching to but scarcel}^, if any, beyond 

 su))terminal joint of middle toe; hallux (without claw) about as long as 

 outer toe (without claw) but much stouter, its claw decidedh' shorter 

 than digit; basal i)halanx of middle toe adherent to outer toe for two- 

 thirds its length or more, to inner toe for nearly as much. 



Colon I Hon.— Above plain brown or brownish gray, the remiges 

 narrowly and indistincth' (sometimes obsoletely) barred with dusk}'; 

 middle i-ectrices gray or grayish brown narrowly })arred with dusky, 

 the remaining rectrices largely blackish or dusky with tip blotched 

 with pale gray or whitish, or else (in T. ithsnlaris) without uniform 

 ])lack or dusky on outer rectrices, their terminal portion irregularly 

 marked with pale brownish gray and dusky; rump with concealed 

 roundish spots of white; a conspicuous sui)erciliary stripe and luider 

 parts whitish, the latter sometimes grayish or grayish ))rown laterally; 

 under tail-coverts more or less barred with dusky. 



Nidiji cation. — So far as known, the nest placed in cavities, usually 

 in trees, stumps, or logs, or about })uildings; eggs white, speckled 

 with reddish })row^n. 



Range. — Lower Austral and Transition life-zones of North America, 

 and greater part of Mexico, including Yucatan, Socorro Island, and 

 Guadalupe Island. (Four species.) 



KEY TO THE SrEClES AND SUBSPECIES OF THKYOMANES. 



o. Superciliary stripe sharply defined and conspicuous, white; inner webs of rectrices 

 (except middle pair) Ijlack, broatUy tipped with mottled gray and white. 

 h. Larger (with relatively shorter wing and tail) with much larger bill (exposed 

 culmen 17.5-19). (Yucatan and adjacent part« of (Tuatemala. ) 



Thryomanes albinucha (p. 551) 

 W/. Smaller (with relatively longer wing and tail), with much smaller bill 

 (exposed culmen 12-lt)). 

 c. Larger, with smaller bill and longer tail; tail 4(]-(U mm. (Thryomanes 

 heu'ickii) 

 d. Smaller (wing and tail averaging less than 55). 

 e. Color of upper j)arts more reddish brown. 

 /. Wing longer, bill and tarsus shorter; color of upper parts more chestnut 

 brown; ^ adult male averaging, wing 54.1, tail 52.3, exposed culmen 

 13.4, tarsus 17.9; adult female averaging, wing 52.2, tail 51.5, exposed 

 cuhuen 1.3.(5, tarsus 17.4. (Eastern Lnited States, chieHy south of 

 40°.) Thryomanes bewickii bewickii (p. 552) 



" In the insular species, T. brevicaudus and T. insularis. 



f> It is of course necessary to compare specimens in corresponding seasonal plumage. 

 Specimens in fresh autunmal plumage, or even those taken during wint<?r, are much 

 "warmer" brown than those taken in spring and summer, when the plumage is 



