FAMILY OF DENTIROSTRES. 47 



even small birds. The proportional length of their wings, and the 

 extent of their flight are as variable as their habits. They have 

 four toes, three before and one behind, and occassionally, tvvobe- 

 Ibre and one behind, and sometimes all four are in front; but 

 there ase iifvct tu'<t before and two behind, as in the next ORDER; 

 and the middle toe is joined to a greater or less extent, to the 

 external toe by means of a membrane. 



2. The order of Passerinae is very numerous, and is divided 

 into five families, which may be distinguished by the following 

 characters : 



(Families.) 

 Tlie external f Notched on both sides near its t r> ENTIR STRES 



toe shorter thin point, 

 the middle one, 

 and Tree for the 

 gn ater part of 1 



its length. Without 



Superior man- a 



dible, 'v. notch. 



Short, wide, flattened, ; 

 horizontally, and very > FISSIROSTRES. 



open. 



Strong and coniail, J- CONIROSTRES, 

 Slender and elongated ^TENUIROSTRES. 



The external toe almost as long as the middle one, to ) 

 which it is united as far as to the penultimate articu- > SYNDACTYL.. 

 _ lation. \ 



FAMILY OF DENTIROSTRES. 



3. This family includes those Passerinae only that have the 

 beak notched on both sides near the point ; they are all insecti- 

 vorous, and most of them also eat berries and other tender 

 fruits They have been classed according to the general form of 

 their beak, and in this way divided into many tribes, the chief of 

 which may be recognised by the following characters : 



2. Into how many families is the order of Passerinse divided ? What is 

 characteristic of the Dentiroste<? How are the Fissirostres dis'inguished? 

 How do the Conirosters differ from the Fissirostres ? What is the character 

 of the beak in th ; Tenuirostres ? How are the Sand c'ylae distingu'shed 

 from the other four families of Passerinae ? 



3. What are the general characters of the Dentirostres ? (Answered in 

 the Table.} How are the Shrikes recognised ? By what characters are the 

 Flycatchers known? How are the Contingas distinguished? How are 

 Tanagers characterised ? What are the characters of the Ant-catc'iers ? 

 How are the Thrushes distinguished? 6y what are the Orioles known? 

 How are the Warblers recognised ? In what tribes of the family of Denti- 

 rostes is the external toe free? How are Cocks of the Rock known? 



