24 LAND-BIRDS. 



The Oscines, or singing Passeres^ technically considered the 

 only musical birds, form about one third of our ornithological 

 fauna, and in Massachusetts are represented by eighteen 

 families. 



The Clamatores^ or non-singing Passeres^ are represented 

 by the Flycatchers (§ 19). 



§ 1. The TURDID^, or Thrushes^ now considered the high- 

 est group among birds, and ranked accordingly, are 6|— 12 

 inches long. Bill not conical (which term in ornithology 

 necessitates rather straight outlines, and a depth approaching 

 the length), but at least twice as long as high ; with the upper 

 mandible usually hooked and slightly notched ; also bristled 

 and with open nostrils (pi. 1, fig. 2). Average length of the 

 tarsus about 1.15 inch ; middle toe nearly or quite equal ; 

 other toes considerably shorter, and approximately equal. 

 Primaries ten, the first being more or less spurious. Tail 

 never forked, but often rounded, and of twelve feathers^ as in 

 all our other oscine birds. The Saxicolidce (§2) and Sylvi- 

 idce (§ 3) differ but little in structure or plumage ; their col- 

 oration is, however, very much brighter, and their tails (at 

 least in the genera Sialia and Reguhis) are more or less 

 forked. Our Bluebirds are, moreover, seven inches long or 

 less, and our " Sylvias " all less than five. 



The typical groups of these three families (including the 

 subfamilies Turdince and RegulincB) are characterized by 

 hooted tarsi (pi. 1, fig. 1). The other subfamilies, MimincB 

 and Polioptilinoe (the Mocking-thrushes and Gnatcatchers), 

 have scutellate tarsi (pi. 1, fig. 3), and rather long, rounded 

 tails. I am inclined to think that the Harporhynchi (Gen. 

 Ill) are entitled to the rank of a subfamily.* Their bills are 

 unnotched, unhooked, and frequently curved (pi. 1, fig. 4). 

 Their eggs, moreover, are markedly different from those of all 

 other Thrushes. The common Bluebird may be considered a 

 representative of the Saxicolidce^ while the Sylviidce are 

 closely related to the Titmice and Warblers. The Wood 



* Harporhynrhus, with Mimns and Galeoscoptes, has heen since removed from 

 the family Turdidce and placed with the Troglodytidm. — W. B. 



