92 REVIEW OF AMERICAN BIRDS. [PART I. 
The structure of the feet, however, as far as my observations 
extend, furnishes a good character for limiting the family, and espe- 
cially of distinguishing it from the Turdidx.. In the latter the basa] 
joint of the outer lateral toe is united to the middle toe ; sometimes 
only a part of it and the inner toe is cleft almost to its very base, so 
as to be opposable to the hind toe, separate from the others. In 
the Troglodytidex, on the contrary, the inner toe is united by half its 
basal joint to the middle toe ; sometimes by the whole of this joint, 
and the second joint of the outer toe enters wholly or partially into 
this union, instead of the basal only. In addition to this character, 
the open exposed nostrils, the usually lengthened bill, the generally 
equal lateral toes, the short rounded wings, the graduated tail, etc., 
furnish points of distinction. In the skins before me there appear 
to be considerable differences in the structure and appearance of 
the nostrils, which may serve to aid in defining the genera with con- 
siderable precision. The exact characters, of course, cannot be very 
readily ascertained from dried specimens, and I may have erred in 
the interpretation of the appearances presented ; although a careful 
examination of a large number of representatives of the species has 
been made. All the forms agree pretty well in the character of the 
wings and tail, which differ in relative size and in shape less than 
in most families; the feet are quite similar, and the bills only 
moderately varied; so that, without an examination of the nostrils, 
it would be difficult to establish intelligibly some of the genera. 
In general there is a thin, vertical, imperforate septum in the 
median plane of the nose, separating the nasal cavities of opposite 
sides. Some skins of Campylorhynchus exhibit an aperture in this 
septum, but I am unable to satisfy myself that this has not been 
caused artificially by passing a string through the nostrils to fasten 
the two jaws together. Besides this, however, there is what may 
be called the lateral septum (a modification of the turbinated bones 
of the nose) on either side of the median, which either projects a 
short distance into the posterior portion of the nasal cavity, with a 
nearly vertical edge (seen in Thryothorus), or is continued along 
1861, 147, no. 891.—Lawrence, Aun. N. Y. Lyc. VII, 292.—Cas. 
& Hein. M. H. II, 1859, 23. 
Turdus vulpinus, Hartu. R. Zool. 1849, 276.—In. P. Z. S. 1850, 276, plate. 
Originally described from Venezuela and Caraccas, Mr. Lawrence has 
received it from the line of the Panama R. R., while the Smithsonian Insti- 
tution possesses specimens from Colima and Mazatlan. A note by Col. Gray- 
son, attached to a Mazatlan skin, states that it is one of the sweetest singers 
of that vicinity, fully equal in this respect to any species of Thrush. 
