X INTRODUCTION. 



ponents of the Orders and Families, much diversity of opinion 

 exists respecting the validity of many of the Genera which have 

 been proposed and even adopted ; nor is this surprising, for, after 

 all, a generic name is mainly — and often purely — a matter of con- 

 venience. According to the Rules for Nomenclature which are 

 known as the Stricklandian Code, a genus should be based upon 

 some structural character ; but pattern of coloration and even general 

 habits have often been allowed to carry weight when anatomical 

 distinctions would have proved insufficient by themselves to attain 

 the desired end — namely, generic separation. On the other hand, 

 important structural characters have often been passed over when 

 these were not apparent in preserved skins ; and finally, there are 

 many genera which are highly artificial. 



Order PASSERES. 



Family TURDID.E. 



Subfamily TuRDix.?;. 



Young in first plumage differ from the adults in having the upper and under 

 parts spotted. Only one moult, in autumn. 



TuRDUS, Liuiuzus. — Bill moderate, straight, convex above ; point of the upper 

 mandible compressed, notched, and slightly decurved ; gape furnished with a 

 few hairs. Nostrils basal, lateral, oval, partly closed by a membrane. 

 Wings with the first or ' bastard ' quill very short ; the second shorter than 

 the third or the fourth, one of which is generally the longest of all. Tail 

 rather long. Tarsus longer than the middle toe ; outer toe connected with 

 the middle toe at the base (p. i). 



MOXTICOLA, Boie. — Bill stout, straight, 'the ridge arched towards the point ; 

 gape almost hairless. Nostrils basal, round, partly covered with hairs. 

 Wings moderate ; the first quill short, the second a little shorter than the 

 third, which is longest. Feet moderately stout. Tail short and even (p. 17). 



Saxicola, Bechstein. — Bill straight, broad at the base ; the upper mandible 

 receding towards the forehead, compressed towards the tip, which is decurved 

 and more or less indented. Nostrils basal, supernal and oval. Gape with 

 a few hairs. Wings with the first quill very short, the third or fourth the 

 longest ; coverts and scapulars short. Tarsus long, covered in front by one 

 long scale, to which succeed two or three shorter scutellse ; the outer toe 

 partly united to the middle toe ; hind claw short, strong and curved (p. 19). 



Pratincola, K. L. Koch. — Bill shorter and broader than in Saxicola ; bristles 

 at the gape strongly developed. Wings and tail rather short (p. 27). 



RUTICILI.A, C. L. Brehni. — Bill slender, compressed towards the point, a little 

 deflected and very slightly emarginated ; gape with tolerably large bristles. 



