242 SYSTEM A TIC SYNOPSIS. — PA SSEBES — OSCINES. 



Bhorter than wings. Tarsus little if any longer than the middle toe and claw. Of medium 

 size. Cosmopolitan. One genus — Turdus. 



MiMiN.^ : Mocking Thrushes. Tarsal scutella usually distinct. BUI variable, sometimes 

 attaining extraordinary length and curvature. Rictus bristly. Nostrils oval, exposed. Wings 

 short and rounded ; 1st quill not strictly spurious, at least one-half as long as 2d, which is 

 shorter than 6th. Tail equalling or much longer than wings. Of medium and largest size. 

 Peculiar to America. An aberrant group, related to the Troglodytidce. Three genera, — 

 Oroscoptes (fig. 114, A}, Mimus, Harporhi/nchus. 



CnxcLiN^ : Dippers. Tarsi booted. Bill shorter than head. Nostrils linear, exposed, 

 but overreached by feathers. No bristles wliatever about rictus. Wings short, but stiU longer 

 than the very short square tail, with strictly spurious 1st primary. Form stout. Plumage 

 dense. Habits aquatic. Cosmopolitan. One genus — Cinclus (Rg. 114;, C). 



Saxicolin.^ : Chats, etc. Tarsi booted. Bill small, much shorter than head. Kictus 

 bristly. Nostrils oval. Wings pointed, exceeding the short, square or eraarginate tail. Tar- 

 sus usually much longer than the middle toe and claw (not in Sialia). Of small size and 

 slender form, and for the most part terrestrial ; but scarcely distinguished from Turdince 

 proper. Chiefly Old World. Three genera, — Saxicola, Cyanecula, and Sialia (fig. 114, .B). 



Regulin^: Kinglets. Tarsi booted (scutella rarely appreciable). Bill much as in 

 Turdince, but small and weak. Nostras exposed, or overhung by tiny feathers. Wings 

 pointed, with strictly spurious 1st primary, longer than the even or emarginate tail. Tarsi 

 longer than middle toe and claw. Very small ; under six inches. Greenish, often with flaming 

 crest. Chiefly Old World. Two genera, — Phylloscopus and Begulus. 



POLIOPTILIN^ : Gnat-catchers. Tarsi scutellate. Bill very slender, but widened and 

 flattened at base, vsdth acute notched and hooked tip. Rictus strongly bristled. Nostrils 

 entirely exposed. First primary not strictly spurious, half as long as the 2d. Very small ; 

 under six inches. Coloration bluish, black and white. Peculiar to America. One genus — 

 Polioptila. 



Artificial Key to the Genera. 

 Tarsi distinctly scutellate (if not, crissum reddish). Wings not longer than tail. 



Length under 6 inches. Colors bluish, black and white Polioptila 11 



Length over 6 inches. 



Bill about as long as head or much longer. Tail decidedly longer than wings. Harporhynchus 4 

 Bill shorter than head. 



Wings and tail of about equal lengths. Ashy, spotted below Oroscoptes 2 



Wings rather shorter than tail. Ashy, adults plain below ; or cap black .... Mimus 3 

 Tarsi booted (anterior scutella at most indistinct). 



Length 5 inches or less. Colors greenish and yellowish. 



A flame-colored crest Regulus 10 



No colored crest Phylloscopus 9 



Length over 5 inches. 



No bristles about bill. Whole-colored. Aquatic Cinclus 7 



Rictus bristled. 



Tarsus much longer than middle toe and claw. 



Blue on throat, reddish on tail Cyanecula 8 



No blue or reddish. Tail black and white Saxicola 5 



Tarsus little if any longer than middle toe and claw. 



Coloration chiefly blue; bill and feet black Sialia 6 



No blue. Bill and feet not black Turdus 1 



Obs. — In determining character of tarsus, whether booted or scutellate, it is necessary to examine adult birds : 

 for the fusion of the anterior scutella is progressive, and only accomplished perfectly at maturity. And in general, 

 in using artificial keys to genera and species, the student must agree with the author in understanding that speci- 

 mens fairly illustrating normal adult characters are in hand. 



