INTRODUCTION. xxi 



Hecurriiii,' now to consideration of tlic Xortli American Ffoni/us of tlir 

 fore-«»in- iii.t,'li('r ^urcmi).-, I take u]> tlie latter in the natural nr.U-r in which 

 tlicv have l)een prt'senteel, givini,' under head of each such ^qoui> an analysis 

 (»f the North American families by vhich it is represented, reiterating; the 

 caution that the characters are dra.vn up only with reterence to the North 

 American genera, and are, constM|uently, not necessarily or adways applicahle 

 ui)on wider considerations. These analyses are made as nearly natural as 

 tiie state of the case permits, but 1 seize up.»n any obvious external char- 

 acteis which may be afforded, without regard to their morphological sig- 

 nificance or taxonomic value. 



AXALYSI? .:^ THE FaMH^IES OF PASSERES. 



A. Oscines. Mu>ital apparatus highly developed, liaek of tarsus undivided, 

 orforint'd of a few setitella distinet from those hipping over the front. First 

 primary wanting, spurious, or at most not over two thirds the length of the 



longest. 



a. Eaeh side of tarsus covered with a plate imdivided in most or all of its 

 length, and meeting its fellt)W in a sharp ridge behind. 

 b. Primaries only nine. 



c. Bill triangular, depressed, about as wide at base as long; the 

 gape twiee as long as the eiilmen. reaching to about opposite the 

 eves; tomia straight or gently eurvetl. No obvious rietal bristles. 

 Tarsi not longer than the lateral toe and elaw. "Wings long an<l 

 pointed, the first primary tipial to or longer than the second. Cen- 

 tral tail-teathers not half as long as the wing . . . Illrnndinidce. 

 cc. liiil variously eonico-elongate or slender, or. if depressed, with 

 long rietal bristles: gape not nearly twice as long as culmen ; tomia 

 straight or gently curved. Nostrils not obviously nearer eulmen 

 than tomia. Tarsus longer than lateral toe and claw. 



Bill very slender, acute ; culmen rather concave at base. Lon- 

 gest secondary acuminate, nearly or quite equal to the primaries 

 in the closed wing. Hind claw little curved, about twiee as long 

 as the middle claw. Hind toe and claw longer than middle toe 



and claw MotacilUdc. 



Bill variously eonico-elongate and acute ; culnicn not concave 

 at base. Longest secondary not acuminate, falling far short of 

 primaries in the closed wing. Hind claw well curve<l. not nearly 

 twice as long as mitldle claw ; hind toe and claw not longer than 

 middle toe and claw. Gape ample; tongue slightly bifid or 

 brushy, if at all . . . . . . . . . SylvicoUdce. 



Bill lengthened, very acute, even deeurved. Wings and feet as 

 in the last. Gape constricted; tongue generally deeply bifid 



or brushy Carebidce. 



ccc. Bill more or less truly conic, usually short, thick ; commissure 

 usually more or less evidently abruptly angulated near the base, or 

 with lobe or tooth further tbrward. Nostrils obvioush' nearer cul- 

 men than tomia. Tarsus longer than lateral toe and claw.* 



1 In the tnie conirostral or fringillifomi genera the under mandible has high strong tomia, "bent 

 :it un angle near the base ; the corresponding portion of the up|H*r mandible is deep, so that the 



