BIRDS OF NORTH AND :\nDDLE AMERICA. 185 



Largo JMimidcTp (length alioiit 2.'30-;>00 mm.) without any sul)tor- 

 minal notch to maxillary tomiiim. 



Bill about as long as or longer than head (exposed culmen slightly 

 shorter than middle toe without claw to decidedly longer than middle 

 toe with claw), more or less (sometimes conspicuously) decurved 

 terminally, about as broad as high at base; maxillary tomium with- 

 out trace of subterminal notch; gonys more or less concave (nearly 

 straight in T. rufum). Nostril rather small, liroadly oval or roundish, 

 near middle of rather short nasal fossa, nearly (sometimes quite) 

 surrounded by membrane, Rictal bristles well developed. Wing 

 rather short and rounded, the longest primaries exceeding longest 

 secondaries by less than length of -middle toe without claw ; outer- 

 most (tenth) primary about half as long as ninth or slightly more, 

 sometimes more than half as long as longest primary; ninth primary 

 shorter than or equal to secondaries, in some species longer than third 

 primary; eighth to fifth prhiiaries longest. Tail decidedly longer 

 than wing (sometimes much longer), distinctly rounded, its gradua- 

 tion varying from much less than length of middle toe without claw 

 (in T. cineremn and T. hendirei) to nearly the length of tarsus (in T. 

 ocellatum), the acrotarsium distinctly scutellate; middle toe (without 

 claw) about two-thirds as long as tarsus; lateral toes unequal, the 

 inner (without claw) reaching to subterminal joint of middle toe, the 

 outer slightly beyond; hallux shorter than inner toe, but much 

 stouter; basal phalanx of middle toe united to outer toe for alxnit 

 half its length, almost wholly free from inner toe. 



Coloration. — Upper parts plain rufous, brown, or gray, with or 

 without whitish wing-bands; under parts buff, whitish, pale brown- 

 ish, or pale grayish, with or without darker streaks or spots; lateral 

 rectrices with or without white or whitish tips. Young not essen- 

 tially different from adults. 



Nidiji cation. — Nest open above, composed of twigs, etc., lined with 

 fine rootlets or similar materials, placed in dense (often thorny) shrubs, 

 small trees, or vine-growth, sometimes in brush piles or on ground. 

 Eggs (3-5) usually speckled, sometimes immaculate light greenish 

 blue. 



Range. — Temperate and tropical North America, most numerously 

 represented in Mexico. (Ten species, with additional subspecies.) 



KEY TO TllK SPECIES AM) SUBSPEriES OF TOXOSTOMA. 



a. Undor parts inorc or less spotted or streaked. « 



b. Above more or less rufeacent ln'own; markin,ij;s on under parts linear, more or 

 less wodge-shaped on fhest. 

 c. Above dull cinnainon-rufoiis; under tail-eoverts (>nl irely bulT. ( [eastern T'nited 

 States and Canada, west to hase of lloeky Mouniains. i 



Toxostoma rufum ( p. 187) 



a The markings sometimes obsolete in very much worn midsummer plumage. 



