LOPHOPHANES. uci 
Famimty PARIDZ. 
Bill generally short, conical, not notched nor decurved at tip. Culmen broad 
and rounded, not sharp-ridged at base. Nostrils rounded, basal, and con- 
cealed by dense bristles or bristly feathers. Loral feathers rough and bristly, 
directed forwards. ‘Tarsi distinctly scutellate; basal joints of anterior toes 
abbreviated, that of middle toe united about equally for three-fourths its 
length to the lateral: in Parinz forming a kind of palm for grasping; outer 
lateral toe decidedly longer than the inner. Primaries ten: the lst much 
shorter than the 2d. Tail feathers with soft tips. 
With Cabanis I include the Nuthatches in the same family with 
the Titmice, and have prepared the above diagnosis to include both 
groups. They agree in having a conical biil, not notched nor de- 
curved, with much rounded culmen, and nearly straight commissure, 
and rounded nostrils covered with dense bristles. These characters 
will readily distinguish them, in connection with the ten primaries, 
and tarsi with scutellz on the anterior half only (as compared with 
Alaudidx), from any other American Oscines. 
The two subfamilies may be thus distinguished :— 
Parinz. Body compressed. Bill shorter than the head. Wings rounded, 
equal to, or shorter than the rounded tail. Second quill as short as the 
10th. Tarsus longer than the middle toe and claw, which are about 
equal to the hinder; soles of toes widened into a palm. Plumage rather 
soft and lax. 
Sittinze. Body depressed. Bill about equal to, or longer than the head. 
Wings much pointed, much longer than the nearly even tail. Tarsus 
shorter than the middle toe and claw, which are about equal to the 
hinder. Plumage more compact. 
Among the Parine are several extremes of form, but the American 
species are sufficiently allied to allow them to be united into one 
subfamily. 
Supramity PARINA. 
LOPHOPHANES, Kavp. 
Lophophanes, Kaur, Entw. Gesch. Europ. Thierw. 1829. (Type Parus cristatus.) 
Bezolophus, CaBanis, Mus. Hein. I, 1850-51, 91. (Type Parus bicolor, L.) 
Cabanis, as quoted above, makes a new genus for our Tufted Tit- 
mouse, on the ground of a difference in the crest, and in having 
