102 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Subfamily Miminse — The Mockiiig-Thnishes. 



The principal characters of this so-called subfamily, have already 

 been given on page 88. The group is probably entitled to family 

 rank, tlie differences from the true Wrens being very marked. The 

 MimiHif have usually been placed in the subfamily TuniKhr, imt 

 they a]ipear to be even less closely related to the 'I'liruslies than to 

 the Wrens. 



As has been stated in "Historj' of North American 13irds" (Vol. I., 

 p. 31), the MimbicB "have a somewhat thrush-like appearance, but 

 (except in Oroscoptcs) with longer, much more graduated, and 

 broader tail ; short, concave wings, about equal to or shorter than 

 the tail, usually lengthened, sometimes decurved bill without notch, 

 and strongly marked scutelL-e on the anterior face of the tarsus. 

 The loral feathers are soft iind not ending in bristly points. The 

 colors are dull shades of brown, gray or plumbeous. Most of the 

 species, in addition to a melodious native song, possess the power 

 of imitating the notes of other birds ; sometimes, as in the Amer- 

 ican Mocking-bird, to ari eminent degree. All are peculiar to the 

 New World, and the species are much less vagrant than those of 

 the Turdiiiie, — those of the United States scarcely going beyond its 

 northern boundary ; others, again, restricted to small ishmds in the 

 West Indies, or in the Pacific Ocean." 



Analysis of NORTH AMERICAN GENERA. 



a.' Tall shorter tlifin wini;. nearly even Oroscoptea. 



n.' Tnll longor than wIdb much rounded. 



i.' IJill equal to or longer than hoad Harporbynchus. 



c' Taraus shorter than culinen. Tail HxceeUinc wine by more than 



lencthof tarsus (Subgenus IJarporhunchus). 



c.» Tarsus longer than culmen. Tall excoedlng wing by less than length 



of tarsus (Subgenus Metkriopterus). 



b.' Bill muub shorter than head. 



c' Tarsus exueeding middle toe and flaw by more than the length of the 



latter. Commissure longer than middle toe and claw Mimodes. 



c' Tarsus exceeding middle toe and claw by less than the length of the 

 latter. Commissure shorter than middle toe and claw. 

 d.' Tarsal scutellio very distinct. Qonys straight or oven slightly 



concave. Much white on wings and tail Mimua. 



d.' Tarsal seutelliB very indistinct, sometimes nearly obsolete. 



Oonys slightly convex. No white on wings or tail Oaleoscoptea . 



