PASSEEES. 15 



work it was pointed out that the juvenile plumage of the 

 " 10-primaried " Passeres seemed to consist of five types. " In 

 the first the nestling resembles the adult female ; in the second 

 the nestling resembles the adult female but is more brightly 

 coloured and generally suffused with yellow ; in the third the 

 nestling is cross-barred ; in the fourth it is streaked ; in the fifth 

 and last mottled or squamated." 



These divisions of the Passeres seem to be of great importance 

 and have been adopted in this edition with but very minor 

 modifications. 



The whole system of classification here accepted is merely pro- 

 visional and does not, and cannot, pretend to be final, but it is 

 hoped that it will provide a sound basis upon which future 

 Ornithologists can work. No classification will be found upon 

 which there is universal agreement. Many Ornithologists hold 

 that, whilst it is sound science to split species ad infinitum, it is 

 equally unscientific to use the same arguments for splitting 

 genera and families. I have considered classification purely as u 

 means to an end I. e. to enable the student to recognize any bird 

 whose name and position he desires to ascertain. If "lumping " 

 will assist him in this, I have amalgamated genera and families ; 

 but if lumping, by creating huge, unwieldy families, will lead to 

 his confusion, I have split them so as to render his work easier 

 and quicker. Each Order will be dealt with in turn as it is 

 reached in the succeeding volumes. 



Scheme of Indian Passerine Families. 



A. (DiACROMYODi.) Syringial muscles of the syrinx 



inserted on the ends of the bronchial semi-rings. 



a. The edges of the mandibles never serrated though 



sometimes notched. 



a 1 . Tongue non-tubular and not bifid or tufted, 

 a*. The hinder part of the tarsus longitudinally 



laminated. 

 a 3 . Wing with ten primaries, the llth too 



minute to be seen. 



4 . Nostrils clear of the line of the fore- 

 head and nearer the commissure than 

 the culinen. 



5 . Plumage of the nestling like that of 

 the adult female, but duller and 

 sometimes darker. 

 <t". Nostrils completely hidden by 



feathers or bristles. 

 a~. First primary exceeding half 

 the second in length ; plumage 



glossy and firm Corvidae. 



b~. First primary less than half 



sacond .' Paridae. 



c~. First primary exceeding half 



second ; plumage lax and soft. Paradoxorni- 



thidae. 



