256 SYSTEMA TIC SYNOPSIS. — PA SSERES — OSCiyES. 



of swainsoni. Distribution aud nesting the same, but breeding range more northerly, being 

 beyond the U. S. to the Arctic coast; occurs in Alaslca, and even in Siberia; S. in winter 

 to Central America. T. alicicB Bd., 1858; T. sicainsoni alicice Coues, Key, orig. ed., 1872, 

 p. 73 ; T. ustulatus alicice of the Key, 2d-4th eds., 1884-90, p. 248, the specific distinctness 

 there indicated now confirmed. 



H. a. bick'nelli. (To E. P. Biclcnell of Now York.) Bicknell's Thrush. A local race, 

 described as smaller on an average, with tlie bill usually slenderer; colors exactly those of 

 alicicB proper. Breeding in the Catskill Mts. of New York, the White Mts. of New Hamp- 

 shire, and in Nova Scotia, migrating S. in winter to parts unknown, because nobody cau 

 recognize as different from alicicB specimens found away from the ascribed breeding range. 

 Hylocichla a. bicknelli Ridgw., Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., iv, Apr. 1882, p. 377; Turdits a. hick- 

 nelli Coues, Key, 2d-4th eds., 1884-90, p. 248. 



SAXIC'OLA. (Lat. saa-'wrn, a rock; co?o, I inhabit. Fig. 121.) Stoxe-chats. Bill shorter 

 than head, slender, straight, depressed at base, compressed at end, notched. AVings long, 



pointed; tip formed by 2d-4th quills; 1st spurious, 

 scarcely or not ^ as long as 2d. Tail much shorter 

 tlian wing, square. Tarsi booted, but with 4 scutella 

 below in front, long and slender, much exceeding mid- 

 dle toe and claw ; lateral toes of about equal lengths, 

 very short, the tips of their claws not reaching base of 

 middle claw; claws little curved; feet thus adapted to 

 terrestrial habits. A large and widely distributed Old 

 World genus, of some 30 species, inhabiting Europe, 

 Asia, and especially Africa. With some authors, it gives 

 Fig. I2t.— Generic details of Snzieola. name to a subfamily SaxicolincB of Turdida;, or even of 

 a family Saxicolidce. I have presented such a group in earlier eds. of the Key, after a fashion 

 then prevalent, but with the remark that "it has uever been defined with precision, being 

 known conventionally by the birds ornithologists put in it." (Key, 2d ed., 18S4, p. 256) ; and 

 I am now glad to abandon it altogether, with the sanction of the A. 0. U. 

 S. oenan'the. (Gr. olvavdrj, oinanthe, name of a bird, from oht), oine, the grape, and 01*^0?, 

 anfhos, a flower.) Stoxe-Chat. Wheat-Ear. Adult ^ : Ashy-gray; forehead, super- 

 ciliary line and under parts white, latter often brownish-tinted; upper tail-coverts white; 

 wings and tail black, latter with most of the feathers white for half or more of their length ; 

 line from nostril to eye, and broad band on side of head, black ; bill and feet black. 9 more 

 brownish-gray, the black cheek-stripe replaced by brown. Young without the stripe : above, 

 olive-brown ; superciliary line, edges of wings and tail, and all under parts cinnamon-brown ; 

 tail black and white as in the adult. Length of ^ 6.75; extent 12. .50 ; wing 3.75 ; tail 2.50; 

 tarsus 1.00; middle toe and claw 0.75. 9 smaller: length 6..50; extent 11. .50, etc. Europe, 

 Asia, and N. Africa ; Atlantic coast, from Europe via Greenland ; also N. Pacific and Arctic 

 coast, from Asia. Common in Greenland, and probably also breeds in Labrador: straggles 

 S. to Nova Scotia and other parts of Canada, New England, New York, even to the Ber- 

 mudas, and New Orleans, La. ; also Ccdorado (at Boulder, May 14, 1880). Nest in lioles in 

 the ground or rocks, crevices of stone Avails, etc. Eggs 4-7, 0.87 X 0.60, greenish-blue, witli- 

 out spots. 



SlA'LIA. (Gr. (naXls, sicdis, a kind of bird.) Bluebirds. Primaries 10 ; 1st spurious and 

 very short. Wings pointed ; tip formed by 2d, 3d, and 4th quills. Tail much shorter than 

 wings, emarginate. Bill ^ as long as head or less, straight, stout, wider than deep at base, 

 compressed beyond nostrils, notched near tip ; culraen at first straight, then gently convex to 

 end ; gonys slightly convex and ascending ; commissure slightly curved throughout. Nostrils 

 overhung and nearly concealed by projecting bristly feathers ; lores and chin likewise bristly. 



