48 



The suborder Oscines is the most numerous and most homoge- 

 neous subordinal division among the Passerine birds, and no very 

 sharp lines of division into even family groups have been dis- 

 covered. Consequently the number of families, their sequence 

 and the respective limits assigned to each varies greatly in even 

 the most recent systems of classification. Many authors throw 

 them into half-a-dozen primary groups, in accordance with the 

 shape of the bill, though the arrangement is admittedly artificial. 

 Thus we have, for example the toothed-billed series or Dentiros- 

 tres, the broad-billed or Latirostres, the cone-billed or Cofii/'osfres, 

 the slender-billed or Tenuirostres, etc. These groups are divided 

 into numerous families, those best entitled to recognition as such 

 being the following. 



The Larks {Alai/didce) are mostly small ground birds of stately 

 carriage, of plain colors, mostly streaked, and with a long claw to 

 the hind toe. They are largely birds of the plains and deserts, 

 numbering rather more than a hundred species (see Case S), 

 most numerously represented in Europe, Asia, and Africa. One 

 species, running into many geographical races, is found widely 

 dispersed in North America (Case B). 



The Wagtails and Pipits {Motacinidce) are birds of similar habits 

 and distribution, the latter also much resembling the Larks in 

 coloration. The Wagtails, however, have longer tails and a very 

 different style of coloration, being marked with large areas of 

 white and black, or with yellow and gray, as seen in the Pied and 

 Yellow Wagtails of Europe (Case S). About seventy species are 

 recognized. 



The Crows and Jays {Corvidcv) are represented in all parts of 

 the world except New Zealand, but only sparingly so, and by 

 rather peculiar types in Australia. The Crows proper include 

 the Ravens as well as the ordinary Crows ; with few exceptions 

 they are black in all stages of plumage. (For the North Ameri- 

 can species see Case B ; the Old World CroAvs may be seen in 

 Case S.) The Jays, on the other hand, are gaudily arrayed in 

 various shades of blue, green, and yellow, variously combined 

 with white ; a few only are clad in plain grays and browns. Many 

 of the species are beautifully crested, and not a few have also 

 greatly lengthened tails (see Cases B, G, and S). They are noisy, 



