SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE 

 GENERA OF BIRDS 



{Numbered in accordance with the Plates and Descriptions in this Volume.) 

 ORDER PASSERES 



(PERCHING BIRDS) 



Bill various ; feet adapted for perching on trees or on the ground (not 

 for grasping, wading, or swimming) ; toes four, all in the same plane, three 

 before and one behind ; claws slender, curved, and acute. Food, various ; 

 that of the nestlings, perhaps in all instances, soft insects. 



FAMILY TURDID.E 



(Thrushes) 



Bill as long as the head, compressed at the sides ; upper mandible arched 

 to the tip, which is not abruptly hooked, notch well markec}, but not accom- 

 panied by a tooth ; gape furnished with bristles ; feet long, with curved 

 claws. Food — insects, snails and fruits. 



SUB-FAMILY TURDIN.E 



Young in first plumage differ from adults in having the upper and under 



parts spotted. 



Genus i. Turdus (Thrush, Blackbird, etc.) Bill moderate, compressed 

 at the point ; upper mandible notched, bending over the lower 

 one ; gape furnished with a few bristles ; nostrils basal, lateral, 

 oval, partly covered by a naked membrane ; tarsUs longer than 

 the middle toe ; wings and tail moderate ; first primary very 

 short or almost abortive, second shorter than the third or fourth, 

 which are the longest. P(tgc i 



2. Saxicola (Wheatear). Bill straight, slender, the base rather broader 



than high, advancing on the forehead, compressed towards the 

 point ; upper mandible keeled, curved, and notched ; gape sur- 

 rounded by a few bristles ; nostrils basal, lateral, oval, half closed 

 by a membrane ; first primary half as long as the second, which 

 is shorter than the third, third and fourth longest ; tarsus rather 

 long ; claw of the hind toe short, strong and curved. Page lu 



3. Pratincola (Chats). Bill shorter and broader than in Saxicola ; 



bristles at the gape strongly developed. Wings and tail rather short. 



Page 1 2 



4. Ruticilla (Redstarts). Bill slender, compressed towards the point, 



a little deflected and very slightly emarginate ; gape with tolerably 

 large bristles. Nostrils basal, supernal, and nearly round. Wings 

 moderate ; the first quill short ; the second equal to the sixth ; 

 the third, fourth and fifth, nearly equal, and one of them the longest. 

 Legs slender, the tarsus longer than the middle toe, and covered 

 in front by a single scale and three inferior scutellse. Page 14 



