637 



PSARINtE. 



THICK-BILLS AND ALLIED SPECIES. 



Nearly allied to the Laniinae and Myiotherinag on the one 

 hand, and to the Turdinae and Thremmaphilinae on the other, 

 is a family of birds, which includes the genera Psaris, Grau- 

 calus, Irena, Eurystomus, Coracias, and several others, of 

 which the general characters are as follows. 



Bill stout, of moderate length, opening to beneath the mid- 

 dle of the eye, broad at the base, gradually compressed toward 

 the end : upper mandible with the dorsal outline convex and 

 declinate, the ridge indistinct, the sides convex, the edges thin, 

 slightly arched, with a faint sinus close to the tip, which is 

 slender and deflected ; lower mandible with the angle short, 

 the dorsal line slightly convex, the ridge obtuse, the sides con- 

 vex, the edges slightly arched, the tip obliquely truncate. 



Nostrils basal, rather large, partially concealed by the fea- 

 thers. Eyes of moderate size, eyelids generally bare unless to- 

 ward the edges. Apei'ture of ear roundish, of moderate size. 

 Head large, roundish, or b-roadly ovate ; neck short ; body 

 moderately full. Feet small ; tarsus very short, rather stout, 

 with seven broad anterior scutella ; toes moderate, the second 

 little longer than the first, the fourth considerably longer ; 

 claws moderately curved, much compressed, laterally grooved, 

 acute. 



Plumage moderately full, generally blended. Bristles at 

 the base of the bill usually strong. Wings of moderate length, 

 broad, of twenty-three quills, of which the third is longest, the 

 first little shorter than the second ; the primaries not much 

 exceeding the secondaries. Tail of twelve feathers, of mode- 

 rate length, generally even, but various. 



These birds are all inhabitants of warm climates, and for the 



