88 BUlDd or ILUNOU. 



Family TROGLODYTIDiE].— Tiie Wrens axp Mockixg- 



TUKLSIIKS. 



Chabactehs. Anterior covorinK of tursuB distinctly scutellute. Dill slender, some- 

 times luiiulituDudiiud luoruorless arched, the eulmcn more or lets convex. WIdk rounded 

 with the Urst (juill well developed, projectlDS beyond the tips of the prlmary-covcrta. 



Although the Mockiug-Thrushes present several strongly marked 

 characters not shared by the true Wrens, we are compelled for the 

 present to place them in the same family. There can be little 

 doubt, however, that they should constitute a family (MivtUla) by 

 themselves. 



The two so-called subfamilies may bo distinguished by the fol- 

 lowing characters: — 



TroglodytinsB. No rictal bristles. Inner toe united to the middle by at least half of 



Us ba^iil phiilanx. Wine less than 3. 50 Inches. 

 MiminsE. Rictal bristles well developed. Inner toe wholly separated at the base from 



the middle toe. Wine more than 3.50 inches. 



Subfamily Troglodytidae.— The Wuens. 



"Chab. Itictal bristles wanting: the loral feathers with brIsUy points; the frontal 

 feathers generally not reaching to nostrils. Nostrils variable. exposed or not covered by 

 feathers, and generally overhune by a scale-like membrane. BUI usually without notch 

 (except in some Middle American genera). Wings much rounded, about enual to tail, 

 which Is graduated. Primaries ten, the first generally about half the second. Basal joint 

 of middle too usually united to half the basal joint of inner, and the whole of that of the 

 outer, or more. Lateral toes about equal, or the outer a little the longer. Tarsi scutellate. 



"The impossibility of defining any large group of animals, so as 

 to separate it stringently and abruptly from all others, is well un- 

 derstood among naturalists ; and the TroijluiUit'uUe form no exception 

 to the rule. Some bear so close a resemblance to the Mocking- 

 Thrushes as to have been combined with them ; while others again 

 exhibit a close approximation to other subfamilies. The general 

 aflinities of the family, however, appear to be to the Turdithe, and 

 one of the best characters for separating the two families appears 

 to exist in the structure of the feet. 



