}] 



TURDID.E — TURDINJE : TYPICAL THRUSHES. 243 



I. Subfamily TURDIN>E: Typical Thrushes. 



With the tarsus, in the adult, "booted" or 

 enveloped in a continuous plate, formed by fusion 

 of all tlie tarsal scutella excepting two or three 

 just above the base of the toes (fig. 36). Toes 

 deeply cleft, — the inner to the very base, the 

 / outer coherent with the middle only for the length 

 /^y of its basal joint. Wings more or less pointed, 

 longer than the tail ; 1st primary spuricius, and 

 very short ; 2d longer than Gth. Bill moderate, 

 sliorter than the head, straight, more or less sub- 

 ulate, little depressed at base, with bristly rictus. 

 Fig. 115. — A typical Thrush, the European Nostrils oval, nearly or quite reached by the 

 Blackbird! r«,v/«.mer«to). From Dixon. ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^p.^ ^^g^ Tail-feathers 



widening somewhat toward their ends; tail as a whole somewhat fan-shaped ; neither decidedly 

 forked at the end, nor much graduated. Upwards of one hundred and fifty species are now 

 usually assigned to the Turdina;, most of them referable to the single genus Turdus and its 

 subdivisions. They are nearly cosmopolitan, and have a great development in the warmer 

 parts of America, where they are mainly represented by types closely allied to Turdus proper ; 

 more aben-ant forms, constituting very distinct genera, occur in the Old World. We have 

 but one genus in North America, of which the robin is the most familiar, as it is a very 

 characteristic, example; a species of Catharus, however, occurs very near if not actually 

 over our Mexican border. The thrushes are diffused over all the woodland parts of (jur 

 country, and are all strictly migratory insectivorous birds, though feeding also upon berries and 

 other soft fruits. Though not truly gregarious, some, as the robin for instance, often collect in 

 troops at favorite feeding places, or migrate in companies. They build rather rude nests, 

 often plastered with mud, never pensile, but saddled on a bough or fixed on a fork, or set 

 on the ground; and lay from four to six green or blue eggs, sometimes plain, sometimes 

 spotted. All are vocal ; and some, like the wood thrush, are exquisitely melodious. 



These birds may be taken in illustration of a character which runs through other of the 

 groups of Turdida; besides the TurdincB proper. The young, in their first feathering, which 

 is worn but a short time, are curiously speckled and streaked, in a manner quite difiei'ent 

 from the adults. This feature is well sliown by a young robin, or blue-bird, as described 

 beyond. 



TUR'DUS. (Lat. turdus, a thrush.) Thrushes. The characters of the typical and single 

 genus represented in North America are in effect the same as those of the subfamily already 

 given. The several species fall in three subgenera, which may be thus analyzed : — 

 Merula. — Sexes similar. BUI notched near end, little widened at base. Tarsi little longer 

 than middle toe and claw. Beneath mostly unicolor, with streaked throat. Large ; stout. 

 (Type, Turdus merula ; includes our robins.) 



Hesperocichla. — Sexes dissimilar. Bill unnotched. Male witli a black pectoral collar. Other- 

 wise like Merula. (Type, and only species, Turdus naevius.) 



Turdus. — Sexes similar. BUI notched near end, much widened and depressed at base. Tarsi 

 decidedly longer than middle toe and claw. Beneath spotted. Of small stature, and ratln r 

 slender form. 



Analysis of Species and Varieties. 

 Neither spotted nor banded below, but throat streaked, i Kobins. ) 

 Upper parts slate-colored ; breast chestnut. 



Outer tail-feather with white tipping. (Eastern ) migratorius I 



Outer tail-feather without decided white tipping. (Western.) propinquus 1 



Upper parts grayish-ash ; breast yellowish-butt'. (.Cape St. Lucas.) confinis Z 



