128 



KEY TO FAMILIES 



Order XVTI. Passeres. Perching Birds: FLYCATCHERS, 

 BLACKBIRDS, JAYS, ORIOLES, SPARROWS, FINCHES, 

 SWALLOWS, VIREOS, WARBLERS, WRENS, THRUSHES, 

 etc. 



Toes four, without webs, all on the same level; hind- 

 toe as large as the middle one, its nail generally 

 longer than that of the middle one; tail of twelve 

 feathers. (Fig. 58.) 



[The following synoptical 

 table of the characters 

 of the twenty families 

 which we have in this 

 order seems more satis- 

 factory than an artifi- 



FIG. 58. 

 Family 1. Tyrannidce. FLYCATCHERS (Fig. 59). 



Bill wider than high at the base, 

 slightly hooked at the tip ; base with 

 conspicuous bristles ; wings longer than 

 the tail, the second to fourth prima- 

 ries longest, the first but little shorter 

 and generally equal to the fifth or 

 sixth; back of tarsus rounded, like 

 the front; plumage generally olive- 

 green or grayish; tail, except in the 

 Kingbird, without white spots, p. 338. 



FIG. 59. 



Family 2. A laudida. LARKS 



(Fig. 60). 



Bill rather stout and rounded; 

 nostrils with bristly tufts; nail FIG. 60. 



of hind-toe much lengthened, as 



long as the middle-toe without nail; back of the tarsus rounded like the 

 front, p. 347. 



FIG. 61. 



Family 3. C oroides. CROWS and JAYS (Fig. 61). 



Large birds, over lO'OO in length; bill stout, the nostrils concealed by tufts 

 of bristly feathers; fourth to fifth primary the longest, the first about half 

 as long; outer tail-feathers shortest; feet and legs stout, p. 350. 



