404 Xr>RTlI AMERICAN BIRDS. 



composed of the ends of twi^s, co;ii*se stems of vejretables, and grasses. 

 AVitliin this they build a compact, well-made fahric of grasses, grapevine 

 bark, and other finer substances, lining the whole with leaves and tine root- 

 fibres. The cavity is large and dee}) for the bird. The parents are fourteen 

 days in incubating before the young are hatched out, and all this while are 

 remarkably silent, hardly uttering a sound, even their faintest lisping note, 

 when the nest is meddled with, though they evim^e great anxiety by their 

 fearless indifference to their own danger. 



The eggs, usually five, sometimes six, in number, have a marked resem- 

 blance to those of the Waxwing, but are smaller. Their ground-color varies 

 from a light slate-color to a dec^p shade of stone-c<>lor, tinged with olive. 

 These are marked with blotches of a dark puridish-brown, almost black, 

 lighter shades of a dark purple, and penund)rie of faint purple, sometimes 

 by themselves or surrounding and continuing the darker spots. They vary 

 in length from .SO to .88 of an inch, and average about .85. In breadth they 

 are from .(50 to .70 of an inch, and in shape the}^ differ also from an oblong- 

 oval to one of a (piite rounded form. 



Nests of tiiere birds from the Arctic regions are more elaborately built and 

 more warmly lined, being often largely made up of the tine dark-colored 

 lichens that cover the forest trees of those regions. 



Subfamily PTILOGONATIN^. 



Cfiar. Leirs moderate. Nostrils oval, with wide naked membrane above and to some 

 extent behind them ; the frontal feathers not reaching to their border, and rather soft. 

 Winirs graduated, shorter than the somewhat broad, fau-sliaped tail; the fii'St quill nearly 

 half the second. Adults plain. 



Although we find it convenient for the present to retain the genera Ptilo- 

 (jonjfs and MijiinlcHt<:s in the same su])family, there seems little doubt that 

 they belong to very ditierent fnmilies, tbe'latter being more properly placed 

 in Tiu'tUihv, as shown in IJev. Am. liirds. It is not neces.sarv that the sub- 

 ject be discussed here, however, antl we merely give the diagnosis of the two 

 groups of which these genera are the tv-pes respectively : — 



Ptilogonateae. Tarsi srutdlate anterioyly ; not longer than middle toe and claw. 

 Myiadesteae. Tarsi with a continu* > plate anteriorly ; longer tiian middle toe and 

 claw. 



Section PTILOGONATE/E. 



Char. Tarsus stout, sliorter, or not longer than tiie middle toe and claw ; conspicuously 

 scutellate anteriorly, and frctiucntly on one or other or on both sides ; sometimes with a 

 row of small plates behind. Wings much graduated : the second quill not longer than 

 secondaries. Outline of lateral tail-feathers parallel or widening from base to near tip. 

 Tail unvaried, or else inornate at end. Quills without light patch at base. Head crested. 

 Young birds not spotted. Not conspicuous for .song. 



