102 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Subfamily Miminse. THE MOCKING -THRUSHES. 



The principal characters of this so-called subfamily, have already 

 been given on page 88. The group is probably entitled to family 

 rank, the differences from the true Wrens being very marked. The 

 Miminae have usually been placed in the subfamily Turdidce, but 

 they appear to be even less closely related to the Thrushes than to 

 the Wrens. 



As has been stated in "History of North American Birds" (Vol. I., 

 p. 31), the Mimirue "have a somewhat thrush-like appearance, but 

 (except in Oroscaptes) with longer, much more graduated, and 

 broader tail; short, concave wings, about equal to or shorter than 

 the tail, usually lengthened, sometimes decurved bill without notch, 

 and strongly marked scutellae on the anterior face of the tarsus. 

 The loral feathers are soft and not ending in bristly points. The 

 colors are dull shades of brown, gray or plumbeous. Most of the 

 species, in addition to a melodious native song, possess the power 

 of imitating the notes of other birds ; sometimes, as in the Amer- 

 ican Mocking-bird, to an eminent degree. All are peculiar to the 

 New World, and the species are much less vagrant than those of 

 the Turdina, those of the United States scarcely going beyond its 

 northern boundary ; others, again, restricted to small islands in the 

 West Indies, or in the Pacific Ocean." 



ANALYSIS OP NORTH AMERICAN GENERA. 



a. 1 Tail shorter than wing, nearly even Oroscoptes. 



a.* Tail longer than wing much rounded. 



l>. 1 Bill equal to or longer than head Harporhynchus. 



c. 1 Tarsus shorter than culmen. Tail exceeding wing by more than 



length of tarsus (SubgeuusHarporhynchus). 



c. 1 Tarsus longer than culmen. Tail exceeding wing by less than length 



of tarsus (Subgenus Methriopterus). 



It* Bill much shorter than head. 



c. 1 Tarsus exceeding middle toe and claw by more than the length of the 



latter. Commissure longer than middle toe and claw Mimodes. 



c. s Tarsus exceeding middle toe and claw by less than the length of the 



latter. Commissure shorter than middle toe and claw. 

 d. 1 Tarsal seutellae very distinct. Gonys straight or even slightly 



concave. Much white on wings and tail Mimus. 



d* Tarsal scutellae very indistinct, sometimes nearly obsolete. 



Oonys slightly convex. No white on wings or tail G&leoscoptes . 



