TK< K JLODVTID.K — THK WUEXS. 



141 



(iKM S 



V I BILL. 



Thr,,nthorux, ViKii,i,oT. Analys.-, 181H, 45. (Type, Trnqlodytrs nrundinaenis, " Tr^njl^yte 

 lbs i:„s,,n,.r," \iK\u.. Ois, Aiii. Sti»t. II, 1807, 55 = aylt'ui ludoviciana. Lath.) 



Gkv. Cii.vii. IJill (•nm])ri-ssr(l, ratlu-r slender; height about one fourth the length ahove. 

 Ciihnen and <(.niniissure gently curved throughout: g(.nys straight; tip very ob.soletely 

 notched. Nostrils in the lov.er <?dge of anterior 

 extremity of the nasal groove, nanowly elliptical, 

 overhung by a stiff scale-like roof of the thickened 

 membrane of the upper part of the njij;al groove, the 

 cre.seentic edge r<»un(U-d. The septum of nostrils 

 imperforate; the posterior i)art of the nasal cavity 

 with a short septum projecting into it parallel with 

 the central, not pcrjx iidicular as in Microrercnlus. 

 Wings and tail about equal, the hitter moderately 

 rounded ; th»' first primary more than half the 

 second, about half the longest. Tarsi rather short, 

 scarcely exceeding middle toe Anterior scutelhe Thryothorus luttovincianus. 



distinct, rest of each side of tarsi in a continuous plate. Lateral toes equal. 



The diagnoses of the North American species are as follows : — 



Species and Varieties. 



Common CiiARACTEi{.«i. Head above, and back, of much the same color. Cris- 

 sum barred transversely ; rest of under parts j)lain. Upper tail-coverts ami ex- 

 posed surface of wings barred. Iris hazel. Nest in holes or with an arched 

 covering. Eggs reddish-white, spotted with red and purple. 



o. Thn/ofhnrns. 



T. ludovicianus. Tail-feathers reddish-brown, barred with black. Greater 

 wing-coverts spotted with whitish. 



Beneath yellow-whitish, washed occasionally with nisty. Sides plain. 

 Bill from nostril, .4o. Leuirth, (J.OU. IIuIk Eastern Province United 



States var. ludovicianna. 



Beneath rufous: lighter on throat and along median line. Sides 

 obsoletely barred with dusky. Bill from nostril, .oG. Length, 5.25. 

 JLih. Lower Kio Grande. var. berlaudieri. 



h. Tebnnfndiffes. 



T. be^^ckii. Tail-feathers, except central, black: the exposed surface and 

 tips only varied with white. Length, 5.50. 



Above dark rufous-brown; beneath plumbeous-white; flanks tinge<l 

 with brown. Kump and (Exposed seccnularies distinctly banded. Quills 

 and middle tail-feathers brownish-black. Length from nostril, .31); 

 along gape, .70. Iftd). Eastern Province United States. var. bew ickii. 



Above ashy-brown ; beneath, including flanks, clear white ; rump 

 ashy, an<i, like secon«laries, very ol)Soletely barred. Quills an<l middle 

 tail-feathers grayish-brown. Ilab. Southern border of United States, 

 into Mexico var. leucogast er. 



Colors intermediate between the two last. Bill longer, from nostril, 

 .50, from gape, .81. Hub. Pacific Province .... var. spilurmi. 



