KEY TO FAMILIES. 



51 



Order XVII. Passeres.— Perching Birds : Flycatch- 

 ers, Blackbirds, Jays, Orioles, Sparrows, Finches, 

 Swallows, Vireos, Warblers, Wrens, Thrushes, etc. 

 Toes four, without webs, all on the same level ; hind toe 

 as large as the middle one, its nail generally longer than 

 that of the middle one ; tail of twelve feathers. 

 [The following synoptical 

 table of the characters 

 of the eighteen families 

 which we have in this 

 order seems more satis- 

 factory than an artificial 



key.] ,^^^^ 



•^ -■ l^^^^ Fig. 41. 



Family 1. Tyrannidce. — Flycatchers (Fig. 42). 



Bill wider than high at the base, 

 slightly hooked at the tip ; base 

 with conspicuous bristles ; wings 

 longer than the tail, the second to 

 fourth primaries longest, the first 

 but little shorter and generally 

 equal to the fifth or sixth ; back of 

 tarsus rounded^ like the front / 

 plumage generally olive-green or 

 p^^ ^^ grayish ; tail, except in the King- 



bird, without white spots, p. 242. 

 Family 2. AlaudidcB. — Larks (Fig. 43). 

 Bill rather stout and rounded ; nos- 

 trils with bristly tufts ; nail of hind 

 toe much lengthened, as long as 

 the middle toe without nail ; back 

 of the tarsus rounded like the front, 

 p. 252. 



Fig. 43. 





Fig. 44. 



Family 3. Corvidm. — Crows and Jays (Fig. 44). 



Large birds, over 10-00 in length ; bill stout, the nostrils concealed by tufts 

 of bristly feathers ; fourth to fifth primary the longest, the first about half 

 as long ; outer tail-feathers shortest ; feet and legs stout, p. 253. 



