126 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



portion), more or less distinctly notched siibterminally. Nostril rela- 

 tively small, horizontally oval, ovate, or fusiform, overhung by mem- 

 brane, posteriorly in contact with frontal feathering. Rictal and 

 decumbent post-nasal bristles well developed; loral feathers, also 

 those of chin, with distinct bristle-like points (more minute in T. musi- 

 cus). Wing long and pointed, the longest primaries exceeding longest 

 secondaries by more than length of tarsus (by combined length of tar- 

 sus and middle toe, without claw, in T. viscivorus); outermost (tenth) 

 ])rimary minute, narrow, more or less acuminate (less so in T. visci- 

 vorus), about one-sixth as loag as ninth (decidedly less in T. musicus), 

 the latter nearly equal to sixth (longer in T. iliacus), the eighth or 

 eighth and seventh longest; three primaries (eighth to sixth, inclu- 

 sive) with outer web sinuated. Tail shorter than wing, but equal to 

 or longer than distance from bend to end of secondaries, two-and-a- 

 half ( T. musicus) to more than three times ( T. inscivorus) as long as 

 tarsus, nearly even (T. viscivorus) , slightly emarginate {T. iliacus) or 

 slightly double-rounded {T. musicus). Tarsus relatively short and 

 rather stout (longer and more slender in T. musicus), nearly one-third 

 as long as wing {T. musicus) to less than one-fourth as long (T. visci- 

 vorus), the acrotarsium fused on both sides (except lower portion); 

 middle toe (without claw) two-thirds as long as tarsus (T. musicus) 

 or decidedly more ( T. iliacus and T. viscivorus) ; lateral toes slightly 

 unequal, the inner (without claw) reaching to subterminal articulation 

 of middle toe, the outer slightly beyond (outer toe shorter, barely 

 exceeding the inner, in T. musicus); hallux slightly shorter than 

 inner toe ; basal phalanx of middle toe united for basal half or more to 

 outer toe, for much less than half to inner toe ; claws normal (rather 

 short and blunt in T. viscivorus), that of hallux decidedly shorter 

 than its digit. 



Coloration- -Above plain brown or gray (the longer wing-coverts 

 and secondaries with paler edgings in T. viscivorus); no white on tail; 

 under parts whitish spotted or streaked with dusky; axillars and 

 under wing-coverts plain white, bufl', or ruf ous-ciim.amon ; no light- 

 colored area or "pattern" at base of inner webs of remiges. 



Nidification. — Nest bulky, open above, usually placed in small trees 

 or bushes, sometimes on the ground, composed exteriorly of fine twigs, 

 dry grasses, dead leaves, moss, etc., the inside plastered with mud, 

 this lined with fine dry grass stems, fine rootlets, bits of decayed wood, 

 etc. ; eggs greenish blue (more or less deep) or whitish (rarely reddish), 

 speckled or otherwise marked with brown or blackish. 



Range. — Palrearctic region (one species accidental in Greenland). 

 (Number of species indefuiite, depending on the limits assigned to the 

 genus.) 



