SAXICOLID.E — THE SAXICOLAS. 



59 



Family SAXICOLIDiE. — The Saxicolas. 



The general characters of this family have already been given on p. 2, 

 as distinguished from the Turdidce. The relationships are very close, how- 

 ever, and but little violence would be done by making it a subfamily of 

 Turdidce or even a group of Turdince, as was done in the " Birds of North 

 America." 



While the group is very well represented in the Old World, America has 

 but one peculiar genus Sialia, and another Saxicola, represented by a single 

 species, a straggler, perhaps, from Greenland on the one side and Siberia on the 

 other. The diagnostic characters of these are as follows, including Turdus 

 to show the relationships of the three genera : — 



Turdus. Tarsi long, exceeding the middle toe ; wings reaching to the middle of the tail, 

 which is about four fifths the length of the Avings. Bill stout; its ujjjDer outline con- 

 vex toward the base. Second quill shorter than fifth. 



Saxicola. Tarsi considerably longer than the middle toe, which reaches nearly to the 

 tip of the tail. Tail short, even ; two thirds as long as the lengthened wings, which 

 reach beyond the middle of the tail. Second quill longer than fifth. Bill attenuated ; 

 its upper outline concave towards the base. 



Sialia. Tarsi short ; about equal to the middle toe. Wings reaching beyond the middle 

 of the tail. Bill thickened. 



Genus SAXICOLA, Bechstein. 

 Saxicola, Bechstein, Gemeinniitzige Naturg. 1802. (Type, S. cenantlie.) 



Gen. Char. Commissure slightly curved to the well-notched tip. Culmen concave for 

 the basal half, then gently decurving. Gonys straight. Bill slender, attenuated; more 



than half the length of head. Tail short, 

 broad, even. Legs considerably longer 

 than the head ; when outstretched reaching 

 nearly to the tip of tail. Third quill 

 longest ; second but little shorter. Claws 

 long, slightly curved ; hind toe rather 

 elona'ated. 



As already stated, America possess- 

 es but a single member of this group 

 of birds, so well represented in the Old 

 World. The color is bluish-gray, with 



wings, a stripe through the eye, and the middle of exposed tail-feathers 



black. 



Saxicola oenanlhr 



