SYNOPSIS OF BIRD FAMILIES. 



Family Paridae : Nuthatches and Titmice. Page 71. 



4 Species. 



Birds seen creeping conspicuously about tree trunks, 

 especially in autumn and winter, frequently walking head 

 downward. The Nuthatches have compactly feathered 

 bodies, straight bills, are varied grayish above, with some- 

 what ruddy breasts. The Titmice are alert, sprightly little 

 birds, with gray, white, and black feathers, one having a crest 

 and the other a black cap and white cheeks. They feed also 

 about trees. 



Family Certhiidae : Creepers. Page 75. 



1 Species. 



This bird is slender, with a long, sharp bill, much mottled, 

 brownish plumage and a long tail. It is seen creeping 

 spirally about trees in fall and winter. 



Family Troglodytidae : Wrens, Thrasher, Catbird, etc. Page 76. 



8 Species. 



Insectivorous birds and highly accomplished singers. 

 The Wrens are all small, and more or less barred and washed 

 with browns, while the tail is usually held erect. The 

 Catbird (which really belongs to a sub-family) is dark slate 

 with a black cap, the Mockingbird gray and olive, and the 

 Thrasher is like a great red-brown Thrush with speckled 

 breast, and a long tail with which he continually beats the 

 air. 



Family Motacillidae : Pipits, etc. Page 87. 



1 Species. 



American Pipit, Titlark. Brownish bird, with long, pointed 

 wings, slender bill, and outer tail-feathers white; seen in 

 stubble fields as a migrant in late fall and spring. Peculiar, 

 wavering flight. 



Family Mniotiltidae : Wood Warblers. Page 88. 



30 Species. 



Beautifully plumed, graceful birds, which, with the excep- 

 tion of a few species, are practically unknown or rather 

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