INTRODUCTION. ^^j-- 



scaled. No rictal bristles, but loral feathers with bristly 

 points. Bill slender, not notched nor hooked. Wings 

 and tail moderately rounded ; neither very much shorter 

 than the other. Size small. Color brown, etc., the wings 



and tail barred or undulated Troglodytidce. 



Tarsus distinctly scutellate. Nostrils overhung (not con- 

 cealed) with bristly feathers. Rictal bristles present, 

 strong. Bill powerful, compressed, strongly notched, 

 toothed, and hooked. Wings and tail moderate. Large. 



Colors black, white, and gray Laniidce. 



eee. Tail not scansorial. First primary less than half as long 

 as the second," or about half as long, in which case the inner 

 toe is cleft nearly to its base (/and,^). 



/. Basal joint of middle toe united some distance with 

 the inner, and for half or more of its length with the 

 outer toe. 



Basal joint of middle toe shorter than that of inner 

 toe, and wholly adherent to both inner and outer toes. 

 Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw. Gonys more 

 than half the length of the lower jaw. Bill stout, high, 

 compressed ; notched and abruptly hooked at tip . Vireonidce. 

 Basal joint of middle toe not shorter than that of 

 inner toe ; united to the outer for about two thirds, to 

 the inner for about one half, its length. Tarsus not 

 longer than the middle toe and claw. Gonys less 

 than half the length of the under jaw. Bill triangular, 

 much depressed at base, moderately notched, and 



hooked at tip « Ampelidce. 



Basal joint of middle toe shorter than that of the 

 inner toe, united to the outer for about two thirds, to 

 the inner for about one half, its length. Tarsus longer 

 than middle toe and claw. Gonys more than half the 

 length of the under jaw. Bill very weak and slen- 

 der, little decurved or notched at tip. Very small, 

 — under six inches long. (Tarsi booted in Begidus, 

 distinctly scutellate in Polioptila.) .... Sylviidce. 

 ff. Basal joint of middle toe quite free from the inner, 

 and not united with the outer more than half-way. 

 Nostrils linear, low. No bristles or bristly points 

 whatever about the mouth. Wings short, rounded, 

 concavo-convex. Tail very short, nearly concealed 

 by its coverts. Tarsi booted . . ' . . CincUdcB. 



Nostrils oval. Bristles or bristly points about the 

 mouth. Wings very long and pointed, reaching, 

 when folded, beyond the middle of the short, square, 

 or emarginate tail, and one and a half times or more 



1 In the genus Amiyelis and part of the Vireonidce it is so extremely short as to appear absent, 

 and is displaced, lying concealed outside the second (apparently first) primarv, like one of the 

 primary coverts ; however, it may always be detected on close examination, ditiering from the 

 coverts with which it is associated in some points of size and shape, if not also of color. 



2 In Ampelis there is tendency to subdivision of the lateral plates ; in Myiadcstcs the anterior 

 scutella are obsolete. 



