KEY TO FAMILIES 



131 



and narrow, and never rounded as in front) ; rarely the bill is heavier, 

 more thrushlike or finchlike; second or third primary longest, the first 

 little if any shorter; tail generally square, sometimes rounded, the outer 

 feathers frequently blotched with white, p. 430. 



Family 13. Motacillidce. WAGTAILS 



and PIPITS (Fig. 71). 

 No bristles over the nostrils; bill 

 slender, much as in the preceding; 

 hind toe-nail much lengthened, as 

 long as or longer than the toe; 

 first three primaries of equal length, 

 p. 470. 



FIG. 71. 



Family 14. Mimidce. THRASHEES, 

 MOCKINGBIRDS, and CATBIRDS 

 (Fig. 72, a, 6). 



Length 8'00-12-QO; tarsus .scaled; tail 

 rounded, the outer feathers at least 

 half an inch shorter than the middle 

 ones, third to fifth primary longest, 

 the first about half as long, p. 472. 



Family 15. Troglodytidce. WRENS (Fig. 



"72, c, d). 



Length 4 '00-6 '00; bill moderate, the 

 upper mandible slightly curved, no 

 bristles at its base; third to fourth 

 primary longest, first about half as 

 long; tail short and rounded; brown 

 or brownish birds with indistinctly 

 barred wings and tail, p. 475. 



\ 



FIG. 72. 



.' Family 16. Certhiidce. CREEPERS (Fig. 73). 

 Bill slender and much curved ; tail-feathers 

 pointed and slightly stiffened, p. 481. . 



FIG. 73. 



Family 17. Sittidce. NUTHATCHES (Fig. 74, 



a, 6). 



Bill rather long and slender, the end of 

 the lower mandible slanting slightly up- 

 ward; wings long and pointed, the third 

 or fourth primary the longest, the first 

 very small, not an inch in length; tail short 

 and square, the outer feathers blotched 

 with white, p. 482. 



Family 18. Paridce. TITMICE (Fig. 74, 6). 

 Length 4'50-6'50; bill short, stout, and 

 rounded, less than half an inch in lerrgth; 

 11 



FIG. 74. 



