VIREONIDA. 321 
The three strictly dentirostral families of Oscine birds which still 
remain for consideration—the Vireonidx, Ampelidex, and Laniade— 
differ from those just described in certain common characters. The 
bill is usually stouter and more hooked, in some forms excessively 
so, with a deep notch and sometimes a prominent tooth behind it; 
the tip of the lower mandible is also more or less notched. The 
nostrils are lateral, the bristles of the mouth generally well de- 
veloped. Except in a few species of Vireo and in Ampelis, there 
are ten distinct primaries, the outer from one-fourth to one-half the 
second. The tail is sometimes short and square, sometimes long 
and graduated. The tarsus is always scutellatet anteriorly, and 
exhibits a tendency to subdivision in the lateral plates, very unusual 
in the families already considered. The basal joints of the toes 
are also more adherent than in the preceding: sometimes attached 
throughout, sometimes more free, much as in T'roglodytide. From ~ 
the typical Turdide they will be known by the scutellate tarsi, 
from all of the family by the greater adhesion of toes, and peculiar 
bill; from the Troglodytide by the notch and hook of bill and other 
characters. The only form resembling Sylvicolide (Hylophilus) 
has ten primaries and a more notched bill, as well as more united 
toes and very large claws. 
While in the characters referred to, the three families differ from 
those previously under review, their precise limitation among them- 
selves has been a subject of much difficulty. The proper position 
of Dulus, especially, has been a matter of considerable doubt, 
although it seems more properly placed among the Ampelide, being 
removed from the Vireonidex on account of its less adherent toes, 
longer basal phalanges of anterior toes, wider gape, etc. In various 
respects, too, Ampelis can hardly be combined with Péilogonys, as 
has been done. It may also be a question whether if Ampelis be 
united into the same family with Ptilogonys and its allies, Collurio 
may not be appropriately added to it. The Myiadestes group of 
what hag usually formed the subfamily of Ptilogonatine, differs in 
the longer tarsi, with undivided plates, more deeply cleft toes, etc., 
from Ptilogonys, and should more properly be approximated to the 
Turdide, as will hereafter be explained. 
The following characters will serve to illustrate the peculiarities 
of the three families :— . 
1 Except in Myiadestine, which really belong with, or at least near, the 
Turdide. 
21 May, 1896. 
