TROGLODYTID.E — THE WRENS. 163 



The eggs of this species average .65 of an inch in length and .50 in 

 breadth. They are, in color, in striking contrast with those of the C. stel- 

 iaris, being so thickly marked with blotches and spots of a deep chocolate- 

 brown as to be almost of one uniform color in appearance. They are of an 

 oval shape, at times almost spheroidal, one end being but slightly more 

 pointed than the other. They number from six to nine. 



In a few instances eggs of this species from the Mississippi Valley and 

 from California are of a light ashy-gray color, the markings being smaller 

 and of a much liohter color. 



We have thus completed the account of the Oscine Singing-Bircls with 

 slender bills not hooked at the end, and which have ten distinct primaries ; 

 the first or outer one, however, either quite small or else considerably shorter 

 than the second. We now come to a series with only nine primaries, the 

 first being entirely wanting, and the second, now the outermost, nearly or 

 quite as long as the third. In the preliminary tables of general arrange- 

 ment will be found the comparative characters of the different families 

 of Oscines, but the diagnosis of the series referred to is presented here, as 

 follows : — 



Common Characters. Primaries nine ; the first quill nearly as long as the second or 

 third. Tarsi distinctly scutellate the whole length anteriorly. Bill conical, but slender or 

 depressed, usually, except in Ccerebidce, half the length of the head ; more or less bristled, 

 or notched. Nostrils oval or rounded. Lateral toes nearly or quite equal, and shorter 

 than the middle ; the basal joint of the middle free nearly to its base externally, united 

 for about half internally. 



Motacillidae. Bill slender. Culmen slightly concave at base. Legs long ; claws but 

 little curved. Hind toe considerably longer than the middle one ; its claw much longer 

 (tw^ice) than the middle claw ; all the claws Vjut slightly curved. Innermost secondaries 

 (so-called tertials) elongated, much longer than the outer secondaries ; and the fifth pri- 

 mary eraarginated at end. Nest on ground. 



Sylvicolidae. Bill rather slender, conical, or depressed. Culmen straight or convex. 

 Hind toe shorter than the middle ; the claws all much curved. Hind claw not conspic- 

 uously longer than the middle one. When the hind toe is lengthened, it is usually in the 

 digit, not the claw. Tertials generally not longer than the secondaries, and not emargi- 

 nated. Gape wide ; tongue slightly split at end. Nest variously placed. 



Caerebidae. Similar to Sylvicolidce. Bill generally longer ; equal to head or more. 

 Gape of mouth narrow ; tongue generally much fringed at the end. Nest on trees. 



The Tanagridce, the Fringillidm, and even the Icteridm, come very near 

 these families, as will be explained farther on, all agreeing in having the 

 nine primaries, and in many other characters. 



