xiv INTRODUCTION. 



united at the base as far as the first joint, their claws moderate but much 

 curved ; the hind toe short, but with a long curved claw. Plumage soft 

 and thick, especially on the upper parts (p. 117). 



TiCHOUROMA, Illiger. — Bill long, slender, slightly decurved and pointed ; nostrils 

 elongated. Wings long and broad. Tail of twelve rounded feathers and 

 sfjuare in shape. Tarsus rather slender ; toes long ; claws much curved, 

 especially the long hind claw (p. 119). 



Family MOTACILLID.E. 



(Wings with only nine clearly visilile primaries). 



MOTACILLA, Linmvus.—WA slender, nearly straight, very slightly notched at 

 the tip ; the mandibles nearly equal in length and their edges slightly com- 

 pressed inwards. Nostrils basal, lateral, oval, and partly concealed by a 

 membrane. Wings moderate ; the first quill acuminate and nearly obsolete, 

 the second, third and fourth nearly equal and one of them the longest, the 

 fifth considerably shorter ; inner secondaries very long, one of them about 

 equal to the fifth primary. Tail of twelve feathers, long and nearly even. 

 Tarsus scutellated in front, much longer than the middle toe, which is joined 

 to the outer toe at its base ; toes moderate ; claws short, except that of the 

 hind toe which is somewhat elongated (p. 121). 



Anthus, Bechsteiii. — Bill and nostrils as in the above genus. Wings moderate : 

 the first primary acuminate and nearly obsolete, the second, third and fourth 

 nearly equal and one of them the longest, the fifth in some species almost 

 as long ; outer secondaries short, inner secondaries very long, equal to or 

 occasionally exceeding the fifth primary. Tail of twelve feathers, moderate 

 and slightly forked. Tarsus scutellated in front, about as long as the middle 

 toe, which is joined to the outer toe at its base ; toes rather long ; claws 

 moderate, except that of the hind toe which in some species is very much 

 elongated (p. 131). 



Family ORIOLID.^. 



Oriolus, Linmsns. — Bill moderately long, conical, and decurving to the point, 

 near which it is notched ; nostrils basal, lateral, naked, pierced horizontally in 

 an extended membrane. Wings long ; the first quill much shorter than the 

 second, the third the longest. Tail moderate, slightly rounded. Tarsus 

 covered in front with broad plates ; toes with large scutellK ; claws arched, 

 and laterally grooved (p. 145). 



Family LANIID.E. 



Lanius, LiniucHs. — Bill short, thick and straight at the base, compressed ; upper 

 mandible hooked at the point, with a prominent tooth ; base of the bill beset 

 with hairs directed forwards. Nostrils basal, lateral, oval. Wings of 

 moderate size ; the first quill shorter than the second, the third usually the 

 longest. Tarsus longer than the middle toe, which is united at its base to 

 the outer toe (p. 147). 



Family AMPELID.F:. 



Amtelis, Linii<€iis. — Bill strong, short and straight ; broad at the base ; both 

 mandibles slightly hooked at the tip, and the upper one notched. Gape 



