OSCINES. 



a 1 . Often feed with their backs downwards 

 owing to the tarsi being rather short 

 than long ; the feet graceful and power- 

 fully constructed with the claws sharp 

 and curved, which does not adapt them 

 for feeding on the ground. Bill neither 

 Finch-like nor Thrush-like, and nearly 

 always the tongue is split at the end 

 and the young similar in plumage to 



the adult females 1. Pari. 



6 1 . Never feed with their backs downwards 

 (excepting some of the Fringillce and 

 the Bu/phagince.) Tongue generally 

 entire. 

 a". Either the inner secondaries are ab- 

 normally elongated and reach to the 

 tip of the wing, or the back of the 

 tarsus is scutellated. Terrestrial . . 2. Alaud.e. 

 b". Never with the secondaries reaching 

 to the tip of the wing, nor with the 

 back of the tarsus scutellated. 

 a 3 . Bill : Finch-like, stout and some- 

 what conical 3. Fringillce. 



b 3 . Bill: never Finch-like, but often 

 Thrush-like in form. 

 a 4 . Nestling : never with any pale sub- 

 terminal spots to any of the 

 feathers, unless they are present 

 in the adult. 

 a 5 . Plumage of nestlings duller 

 than that of the adults and 

 may have streaks or blotches, 

 but never transverse bars . . 4. Corvi. 

 b 5 . Plumage of nestlings generally 

 cross-barred ; but never with 



spots or blotches 5. Lanii. 



c 5 . Plumage of nestlings similar to 



that of the adults, but brighter. 6. Sylvle. 

 b*. Nestlings often with pale sub- 

 terminal spots on many of the 

 feathers. 

 d 5 . Run, and feed quite as much on 

 the ground as in trees ; bill 

 rarely broader than deep at the 

 gape 7. Turdi. 



