TROGLODVTID.K-TIIE WKKNS. l(\?, 



Tlio e<:<:^ of tins sju'cit's avt-ri^ue .Or» of an iiu^li in lenj^jtli and .HO in 

 breadth, fljcy are, in c«)l(»r, in striking contrast with those of the C. ste/- 

 i<n-i.-i, being so tliiekly marked with Idotches and spots of a deep cliocolate- 

 brown as to be almost of one uniform cidor in appearance. They are of an 

 ovid shape, at times almost splieroidal, one end being but slightly more 

 pointed than tlie other. They number from six to nine. 



In a few instances e*i^fi of tliis species from the Mississip])i Valley and 

 from California are of a light ashy-gray color, the markings being smaller 

 and of a much lighter color. 



"We have thus completed the account of the Oscine Singing-Birds with 

 slencka- bills not hooked at tlie end, and whicli have ten distinct primaries; 

 the first or outer one, however, either (juite small ov else considerably shorter 

 than tlie second. We now come to a series with only nine primaries, the 

 first being entirely wanting, and the second, now the outermost, nearly or 

 unite as long as the third. In the [)reliminary tables of general arrange- 

 ment will be found the comparative cliaracters of the different families 

 of Oscincii, but the diagnosis of the series refeiTcd to is presented here, as 

 folhjws : — 



Common" Ciiaracteks. Primaries nine: the first quill nearly as \onfr as the second or 

 third. Tarsi distinctly soutellato tlu' whole lenj^th anteriorly. Bill conical, but slender or 

 dej)ressed, usually, exce{)t in ( '(trebuhc, half the lentrth of the head; more or less bristled, 

 or noteiie<l. Nostrils oval or rounded. Lateral toes nearly or quite equal, and shorter 

 than the middle ; the basal joint of the middle free nearly to its base externally, united 

 for about half internally. 



Motacillidae. IJill slender. Culmeii sliu^htly concave at base. Lei^'s lonjr ; claws but 

 little curved. Hind toe considfrably lonirer than the middle one; its claw much loiiufcr 

 (twice) than the middle claw ; all the claws but slightly curved, [nnermost secondaries 

 (so-called tertials) elouiratcd, nnich longer than the outer secondaries; and the fifth pri- 

 mary emargiuated at end. Nest on g-rouml. 



Sylvicolidae. JJill rather slender, conical, or depressed. Culmen straight or convex. 

 Hind toe shortor than the middle: the »-laws all nuich curved. Hind claw not conspie- 

 uouslv lonirer than the mid<lle one. When the hin<l toe is Icnirthened, it is usuallv in the 

 di'jfit, not the claw. Tertials trenerallv not lonjrer than the secondaries, and not emargi- 

 nated. Gape wiile : tongue slightly split at end. Nest vari(tusly placed. 



Caerebidae. Similar to Sifln'ru/itla: Bill generally longer: ecjual to head or more. 

 Gape of mouth narrow ; tongue generally mu(;h fringed at the end. Nest on trees. 



The Ttrnaffn'thr, the Frin<iilli(hr, and even the Lit riihr, come very near 

 these families, as will be ex])lained farther on, all agreeing in having the 

 nine primaries, and in many other characters. 



