^^y NOKTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



the length of the latter ; tip formed by second, third, 

 and fourth quills ; outer secondary reaching only 

 about two thirds way to end of longest primary ; 

 spurious quill very short. Tarsi booted . . Saxicolidce. 



Nostrils oval. Bristles or bristly points aljout the 

 mouth. Wings moderate, not reaching, when folded, 

 beyond the middle of the tail, and not over one and 

 a third times as long as the latter ; tip formed by third 

 to sixth quill; outer secondary reaching in closed 

 wing three fourths or more the length of the longest 

 primary. Spurious quill longer, sometimes one half 

 the second. Tarsi scutellate in Mimince, booted in 



Turdince Thrdidce. 



aa. Outside of tarsus covered with two series of scutella, — one lapping en- 

 tirely around in front, the other entirely around behind, and meeting at a 

 groove on the inside ; hind edge blunt. First primary spurious or apparently 

 wanting. Hind claw much lengthened, scarcely curved. Nostrils with 

 antrorse bristly feathers. Bill conico-elongate ..... Alaudidce. 



B. Clamatores. Outside of tarsus covered with a series of plates variously 

 arranged, lapping entirely around in front and behind, to meet at a groove on 

 the inner side. 



First primary lengthened, often longest, at least over two thirds as long as the 

 longest. Bill broad at the base, much depressed, tapering to a fine point, which 

 is abruptly decurved ; culmen rounded or flattened ; gonys flattened ; commissure 

 straight, or nearly so, to the tip. Nostrils small, circular, basal ; overhung, but 

 not concealed by bristles. Mouth capacious, with broad and deeply fissured 

 rictus, beset with numerous long strong bristles. Feet small, weak. Tail of 

 twelve feathers Tyrannidce. 



Analysis of the Families of PICARI.Sj. 



Secondaries only six. 



Bill tenuirostral, longer than head, nearly cylindrical. Gape constricted. 

 Tongue filiform, extensile, bi-tubular. Wings long in terminal portion, ab- 

 breviated proximally, acute. Plumage compact, of metallic sheen. Size 



smallest of all birds. (Humming-Birds.) Trochilidce. 



Secondaries more than six. 



Feet syndactyle by connation of outer and middle toes. 



Outer toe much longer than the inner, united for half its length with 

 the middle, forming a broad sole. Tibiae naked below. Bill longer 

 than head, straight, acute, with hard cutting edges and ample rictus. 

 Tongue rudimentary, fixed. Wings pointed, much longer than the short 

 square tail. Tail-feathers twelve. Plumage compact, oily. (King- 

 fishers.) Alcedinidce, 



Feet zygodactyle* by reversion of outer or fourth toe. 



Not scansorial ; tail of eight or ten long soft feathers. Bill with de- 

 curved tip, not fitted for hammering; rictus ample. Tongue not ex- 

 tensile nor vermiform nor barbed. Salivary glands and hyoidean appa- 

 ratus not peculiar. No nasal tufts of feathers. Arboreal and terrestrial. 

 (Cuckoos.) CuculidcB. 



1 Excepting Picoidcs, in which the true hind toe (hallux) is wanting ; the outer or fourth toe 

 being, however, reversed as usual, and taking the place of the hind toe. 



