Section IV. COEVI. 



The members of this Section have the plumage of the young birds duller 

 than that of the adults, sometimes more streaked or blotched, but never 

 more barred, as in the Lanii or Shrikes, nor more spotted, as in the Turdi or 

 Thrush group, and never brighter than the adults, as is the case in the 

 SilvycB or Warblers. They differ from the Frhujillce, or Finches, in the 

 form of the bill ; from the Alaiula, or Larks, in the back of the tarsus being 

 •plain, not scutellated, and the secondaries never reach to the tip of the 

 wing ; from the other four Sections they differ in their mode of feeding, often 

 perching on the ground for that purpose and they are more omnivorous. 



Flight powerful ; wings pointed ; bill and feet strong ; generally gre- 

 garious ; not migratory {Oriolus galbula excepted) ; sexes generally alike in 

 plumage ; size about that of a Thrush, excepting in the Corvidat, the largest 

 of which is the Eaven. 



Nest cup-shaped and placed among boughs or in holes. Eggs, generally 

 five in a clutch, are uniform or spotted. 



KEY TO THE FAMILIES. 



a. Tarsus short, never more than 1-1 inches and is not longer 

 than the culmen, otherwise they are Thrush-like in form 

 and size, with no metallic gloss. All the Ethiopian species 

 have a considerable amount of yellow on the upper parts, 

 head or neck, as well as upon the breast, and the bill is 



pale reddish brown in adults Oriolida. 



b. Tarsus comparatively longer. No yellow feathers on the 

 upper parts, head or neck, which are generally strongly 

 glossed ; bill never pale reddish brown. 



a^. Earely with any notch on the upper mandible ; form and 

 size generally more Thrush-like ; tail of twelve feathers, 

 square or graduated SturnidcB. 



b^. A notch on the upper mandible near the end ; size variable 

 from that of a Thrush to that of a Eaven ; tail, when of 

 twelve feathers is square or rounded and when of only ten 

 feathers is generally graduated and longer than the wing. Corvida. 



[January, 1906. 1 



