PERCHING BIRDS. 



The Thrushes, (Family Turdidcs] are variously classified by different 

 ornithologists, but under the ruling of the American Ornithologists' 

 Union they are grouped in the same family with the Bluebird, Solitaires, 

 and Stonechats. This family numbers about three hundred species, 

 of which about one-half are true Thrushes (Subfamily Turdince}. The 

 members of this subfamily are, as a rule, fine singers, many of them 

 being among the best known song birds, and from a musical point of 

 view the group, as a whole, is usually given the first place among birds. 

 If, however, all the fifteen known species of Solitaires sing as well 

 as the four species it has been my privilege to hear, I am assured that 

 no one would dispute their claim to the highest rank which can be 

 awarded singing birds. 



In the succeeding pages, the five hundred and fifty odd species and 

 subspecies included in the preceeding families of the Order Passeres 

 are grouped according to some obvious color character in order to 

 facilitate their identification in life. A satisfactory arrangement of this 

 kind is out of the question. Lines sharply separating the groups pro- 

 posed do not exist and some species appear to fit in one section as well 

 as in another. Nevertheless, it is hoped that in most instances, the 

 system will be found to serve the purpose intended. Under its ruling 

 our Perching Birds are grouped as follows: 



1. With red markings. 



2. With blue markings. 



3. With orange or yellow markings. 



4. With reddish brown or chestnut markings, chiefly in the form of 



patches or uniformly colored areas. 



5. Brownish, generally streaked birds. 



6. Dull, inconspicuously colored birds, without prominent markings. 



7. Gray, black, or black and white birds. 



While the first object of the bird student is to learn to name birds I 

 would again urge him to acquaint himself with at least the arrange- 

 ment of the Orders and Families of our birds and their leading struct- 

 ural characters, (see page 2.) 



Having identified a bird, its family may always be determined by re- 

 ferring to its number in the systematic list of birds at the end of the 

 book; and the more important characters of its Order and Family will 

 be found in the synopsis of Orders and Families beginning on page 9. 



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