PASSEEES. 15 



work it was ])oiiiteil out that the juvenile plumage of the 

 " 10-pi'imtiried " Passeres seemed to consist of tive types. ''In 

 the first the nestUug i-esembles the adult female; in the second 

 the nestling resembles the adult female but is more brightly 

 coloured and generally suffused with yellow; in the third the 

 nestling is cross-barred; in the fourth it is streaked; in the fifth 

 and last mottled or squamated." 



These divisions of the Passeres seem to be of great importance 

 and liave been adopted in this edition with but very minor 

 modifications. 



T\\e whole system of classification here accepted is merely pro- 

 visional and does not, and cannot, pretend to be final, but it is 

 hoped that it will provide a sound basis upon which future 

 Ornithologists can work. No classification will be found upon 

 which there is universal agreement. Manv Ornithologists hold 

 that, whilst it is sound science to split species ad infinitum, it is 

 equally unscientific to use the same arguments for splitting 

 genera and families. I have considered classification purely as a 

 means to an end — /, e. to enable the student to recognize any bird 

 whose name and position he desires to ascertain. If ''lumping " 

 will assist him in this, I have amalgamated genera and families ; 

 but if lumping, liy creating huge, unwieldy families, will lead to 

 his confusion, I have split them so as to render his work easier 

 and quicker. Each Order will be dealt with in turn as it is 

 reached in the succeeding volumes. 



Scheme of Indian Passerine Families. 



A. (DiACROMYODi.) Syringial muscles of the syrinx 

 inserted ontlie ends of the bronchial semi-rings. 

 a. The edges of the mandibles never serrated though 

 sometimes notched. 

 fl\ Tongue non-tubiuar and not bifid or tuftfd. 

 «-. The liiuder part of the tarsus longitudinally 

 laminated. 

 a^. Wing with ten primaries, the lltli too 

 minute to be seen. 

 «'. Nostrils clear of the line of the fore- 

 head and nearer the commissure than 

 the culmen. 

 (i>. Plumage of the nestling like that of 

 the adult female, but duller and 

 sometimes darker. 

 «''. Nostrils completely hidden by 

 feathers or bristles. 

 a''. First primary exceeding half 

 the second in length ; plumage 



glossy and firm Corvidae. 



b'. First primary less than half 



second Paridae. 



c". First primary exceeding half 



second ; plumage lax and soft. Paradoxorni- 



thidae. 



