2 NORTH AMKHTrAX BTUDS. 



A* Nostrils oval. Loral and frontal foathers with bristly points, or intcrsprrsod with 

 bristles ; rictus with lonjrer or sliortor bristles. 



Sazicolidse. Winjrs very long; and much pointed, reaching beyond the middle 

 of the siiort s<piare or emarjjinated tail, and one and a half times or more the 

 lenjrth of the latter. The si>urious priniary very short, the second quill lonp-r 

 than the fom-th. In the el<)se<l wing tlu; outer secondary reaches only about two 

 thirds the length of longest primary. 



Turdidae. Wings moderate, more roundeil, not reaching beyond middle of the 

 el'ten loimded tail, an<l not more than one and a third the latter, usuallv nion* 

 nearly eipial. Spurious j>rimary sometinn'S half the Imgth of second quill ; the 

 second (piill shorter than the fourth. In the closed wing the outer secondary 

 reaches three fourths or more the length of longest primary. 



B« Nostrils linear, in lower edge of nasal membrane. Loral and frontal feathers soft 

 and downy, and no bristles or bristly points whatever about the mouth. 



Cinclidse. Body very short and broad. Wings short, rounded, and concave. 



The American Si/Ini(I(r are in some respects very closely related to the 

 Sa,ri(oli(fa\ but may be distinj^uished by their nmcli smaller size, mure 

 slender and de[)ressed bill, more strongly bristled rictus, etc. ; on whicli 

 account they are more strictly " Hy -catchers," taking their prey in great 

 part on the wing. 



Of the three families, the Turdida- contain a great variety of forms, 

 and exhibit widely difl'erent characters, rendering it exceedingly ditficult 

 to arrange them in any systematic or regular scMiuence, or to accurately 

 define their boundaries. In the Birds of North America, the Mocking 

 Tlirushes were placed .among the Wrens, on account of the distinct tarsal 

 scutelhe, and otlier cliaracters. We are now, however, inclined to believe, 

 with Dr. Sclater, that their place is with the recognized Tvrdida; and, 

 among other reasons, on the ground of their more deeply cleft toes, and 

 greater extension forward of frontal feathers. The i'ollowing synoi)sis of 

 the Nortli American forms will serve tlie })urpose c^f determining the genera, 

 even if these are not armnged or combined in a strictly natural manner. 



A. Turdinse. — Tarsus covered anteriorly with a continuous plate without 

 scales. 



Wings decidedly longer than the tail, w^hich is nearly even. Bill con- 

 siderably shorter than the hea<l. 



First quill usually not one fourth the second. Wings pointed. Tarsus 

 hardly the length of head, but yet longer than middle toe ; outstretched 

 toes falling short of tip of tail Tardus. 



B* Miminae. — Tarsi scutellate anteriorly ; scales seven. 



Wings decidedly longer than the tail, which is nearly even. Tarsus as 



long as the head. 



Bill decidedly shorter than the head, scarcely notched ; wings pointed ; 

 first quill less than half the second , third and fourth longest. Claws 

 not peculiar. Bristles prominent. Tarsus considerably longer than 

 middle toe and claw Oreoscojttes 



