ISO TIJlELlIDJi. 



Subfamily II. TROGLODYTIN^. 



In their habits and in their form the "Wrens are essentially Tirae- 

 liine. They possess the strong, even clumsj-, legs and concave rounded 

 wings which distinguish this group of birds, and they do not migrate, 

 as a rule. The nests are generally domed, and hence one of the 

 reasons for retaining the Dippers in the family. The principal cha- 

 racteristic, however, of a "Wren, and one that separates them from the 

 true Timcliine birds, is the almost entire absence of rictal bristles. 

 In all the true I'lmelliare^ and even in the Bulbuls, these bristles are 

 very strongly developed : and for ornithologists who doubt that 

 Cinclits is a "Wren, an examination of the bill alone will be sufficient 

 to show that its place is with the Troglodijtince. 



Key to the Genera, 



a. Tail long, exceeding the length of the wing 



bv about as much as the hind toe 28. Cix^acERTHiA, 



b. Tail moderate ; the wing equal to the tail, [p. 182. 



or exceeding it shghtly, but never by more 

 than the length of the culmen, 

 a'. Wing and tail about equal ; first piiuiai-y 

 larg-e, nearly two thirds the leugtli of 

 the entire wing ; tarsal envelope with 

 distinct scutes ; nasal aperture longi- 

 tudinal and shut in by a very evident 



supeiior membrane 2li. Campylorhyxchus, 



h'. "\Ying a little longer than the tail. ||p_ ig4_ 



c" . Tarsus longer than tlie culmen. 



a'". Tail rather longer, more than oue 



third <])" entire length of the bird. 



«'. Bill with a small, but perceptible, 



subterminal notch. 



fl^ NostrU oval and open, situated 



in the anterior portion of the 



nasal fossa 30. THRY'opHXLtis, 



&'. Nostrils long ovals, overhung [p. 20i. 



by a thickened membrane, 

 leaving the opening small and 



longitudinal 31. Thryothorus, 



hK Bill not notched. [p. 218. 



c'. Middle toe and claw about 



equal to hind toe and claw ; 



outer toe about equal to inner 



toe. 



«". Hind claw veiy large, nearly 



equal to hind toe itself. . . . -32. Cistothorus, p. 240. 

 h^. Hind claw small, not nearly 

 equal to hind toe. 

 a". Culmen long and tliin, ex- 

 ceeding the hind toe and 



claw in length 33. Troglodytes, 



h' . Culmen shorter and moie [p. 247. 



conical, not so long as 

 hind toe and claw. 



