INTRODLX'TION. 



liOouiTinj,' now to consideration of the Xortli Ariicrican Fioni/ir.-i of tlic 

 f(jrenoiii- iii-Iici\ni(Hips, 1 take \\]> tlu; latter in the luitiiral order in wiiich 

 tiiey have lieen |ire.seiitcd, giving uiuk'r liead of eacii sueh yronp an iinah-.^jis 

 of tlie Xortli American families by vhicli it is rei)re.sented, reiterating tlie 

 cantion that the ciiaractors are drasvn u]) only with reference to the Xortli 

 American genera, and are, con.seinieiitly, not necessarily or always ajiplicalile 

 uiion wider considerations. These analyses are made as nearly natural as 

 the state of the case permits, bnt 1 seize npon aay obvious external char- 

 acters which may be afforded, without regard to their morphological si<'- 

 niticance or taxoiioniic value. 



AsALvsL^J OF Tin; F.\Mii.iKS OF PASSERES. 



A. Oscines. Miisicul iippanitns liiglily developed. liuck of liir.siis iindividwl 

 or I'oniicd ol' a lew .sciitclla distiiR-t from those lapjiiiio- ovlt the front. First 

 priiiiaiy wantiiiir, spurious, or at most not over two thirds the leugtli of the 

 lon^-i'st. 



H. Each side of tarsus eovereil with .a plate iiiuiivided in most or all of its 

 leiii,'th, aii<l meetiuf,' its I'eiiow iu a sharp rid^'e heiuiid. 

 b. I'riMiaries only nine. 



c. IJili trian-uiar, depre.-sed, ah.iut as ivido at base as loii-r; tliu 

 gape twice as lung as tiie ,uhnen, reaehing t„ about opposite the 

 eyes; tomia straijriit or -eiitly curved. X,, ohvion.s rietal bristles 

 Tar-si not longer than the lateral toe and elaw. WiiiL's Ion- and 

 pointed, the lirst primary eiiual to or longer than the .seeond." Cen- 

 tral tail-i;.,.thers not half as long as the wing . . . Ifirnndinidw 

 cc. ttill variously eouiuo-elongate or slender, or. if depre.s.sod with 

 long rietal bristles: gape not nearly twice as Ion- as .Milmen • tomia 

 straight or genily curved. Nostrils not obviouslv nearer eulincn 

 than tomia. Tarsus longer than lateral toe and claw. 



Bill very slender, acute ; cuhiien rather concave at base Lon- 

 gest secondary acuminate, nearly or quite equal to the priin-ries 

 in tlio closed wing. Hind claw little curvc.l. about twice as Ion- 

 as the middle claw. Hind toe and claw longer than middle toe 



and claw ^r, n-i 



am variously conieo-elongate and acute; ciilmen not concave 

 at base. Longest secondary not acnininate. falling far short of 

 primaries in the closed wing. Hind daw well curved, not nearly 

 twice as long as middle claw ; hind toe and claw not lon-er than 

 niiddle toe aiul claw. Gape ample; tongue slightly bilid or 

 brushy, if at all ... . <.--;■,•; 



lii I leiigtliene.1. very acute, even dcurved. Wings and (eel as 

 in the last. Gape con.strieted ; toi.gno generally deeply bilid 

 or brushy ... ^ ^, , . , 



Till , ••••... Carcouhv. 



ccc. Bill more or le..s truly conic, usually short, thick; commissure 

 iKsnal ly more or less evidently abruptly angulated near the base or 

 with l,jbe or tooth further forward. Xostrils obviouslv nearer cul- 

 meu than tomia. Tarsus longer than lateral toe and claw.' 



.u,„l, 11. ai th. ba,se ; the convs|,nn,ln,g portion of tl„. upper maiulibi,. is deep, so that the 



