86 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Family PARIDiE. — The Titmice. 



Char. Bill jrenprally short, roni<'.il, not notched nor decurved at tip. Culmen broad 

 and ronnde<l, not .^^harp-ridjied at haso. Nostrils roundi'd, basal, and concealed by dense 

 bristles or bristly feathers. Loral feathers rough and bristly, dire<'ted forwards. Tarsi 

 distinctly scutellate ; basal joints of anterior toes abbreviated, that of middle toe nnite«l 

 about eijually for three fourths its length to the lateral : in PnritKf forming a kind of palm 

 for grasping; outer lateral toe deeide«lly longer than the inner. Primaries ten, the first 

 nuich shorter than the second. Tail-feathers with soil tips. Nest in holes of trees ; eggs 

 white, spotted with reddish. 



With Cabanis we include the Xutliatches in the same family with the 

 Titmice, and have prepared tlie alx)ve diagnosis to embrace l)Otli groups. 

 They agree in having a conical bill, not notched nor decurved, with much 

 rounded culmen, and nearly straight conmiissure, and rounded nostrils cov- 

 ered with dense bristles. These characters will readily distinguish them, in 

 connection with the ten primaries, and tai"si with scutellap on the anterior 

 half only (as compared with Alamlula), from any other American Oscims. 



The two subfamilies may l)e tluis distinguished : — 



Farinae. Body comprcvssed. Bill shorter than the head. Wings rounded, equal to or 

 shorter than the rountled tail. Second quill as short .as the tenth. Tarsus longer than 

 the middle toe and claw, which are about equal to the hinder ; soles of toes widened 

 into a palm. Plumage rather soft and lax. 



Sittinae. Body depressed. Bill about e«[ual to or longer than the head. Wings much 

 pointed, much longer than the nearly even tail. Tarsus shorter than the middle toe 

 and claw, which are about equal to the hinder. Plumage more compact. 



Subfamily PARINJE. 



The character of the subfamily will be found sufficiently detailed above. 

 The genera are as follows : — 



Bill with curved outlines. 



Head with a long pointed crest. Wings and tail rounded. 



Body full and large. Tail about equal to wings .... Lophnphanes. 

 Head with feathers full, but not crested. Wings and tail rounded. 



Body full. Tail about equal to wings ; rounded Pants. 



Body slender. Tail much longer than wings ; much graduated . Psaltripariis. 



Bill with outlines nearly straight. 



Head with com])act feathers. Wings pointed. 



Body slender. Tail rather shorter than the wings ; nearly even . Auriparus. 



Genus LOFHOPHANES, Kaup. 



Lojihophanes, Kaup, Entw. Oesch. Europ. Thierwclt, 1829. (Tjtjc, Farm cristafus.) 

 Boeolophu^, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1850, 1851, 91. (Tyix*, Parus bicolor, L.) 



