2 NORTH AMERIOAX BIRDS. 



A. Nostrils oval. Loral ami I'nnital f(>allii'rs with bristly poiiit.s, or iiitcrspcr.<LMl with 



liristlcs ; rirtns with loiiijfcr or sliortcr lirisllcs. 



Saxicolidee. Wind's very loii^' ami iiuich pointed, rcaphiii^' beyond the middle 

 of tlu^ sliort si|nare or eniarginatcd tail, and one and a half times oi- more the 

 lenpjth of the latter. The spiu'lous priniary very short, tlie second {[uill longer 

 than the fonrtli. In the closed wini,' the outer si'condary reaches only abont two 

 thirds the leii{^'th ol' lonijest primary. 



Turdidee. Winfrs i lerate, more rounded, not reaching lieyoud middle oi' the 



ol'len rounded tail, and not more than one and a third the latter, usually \uinv 

 nearly eipial. Spurious |)rimary sometimes hall' the len^rlh ol' .secon<l (piill ; tin; 

 .second ((uill .shorter than the fourth. In the closed wing the outer secondary 

 reaches thri'c fouiihs or more the length ol' longest primary. 



B« Nostrils linear, in lower eclge of iia.sal inembrane. Loial and frontal feathor.s soft 

 and downy, and no bristles or bristly jioints whatever about the mouth. 



Cinclidae. Body very short aiul broad. Wings short, rounded, and concave. 



Tlie Aiiievicim Si/lnida' arc in soinc ivs])octs very closiily related to the 

 f^ri.iic()/i(/(r, bvit iiiiiy be ili.stiiioiii.slied Ijy tlieir nmcli sumller wi/c, more 

 slender and dejjre.ssed l)ill, more .stronoly bristled rictus, etc. ; on wiiicli 

 iiccoiint they are more strictly " lly -catchers," ttiking tlieir prey in great 

 liart on the wing. 



Of th(! three t'ainilies, the Tnrdidn- contain a great variety of forms, 

 and exhibit widely dilVerent characters, rendering it exceedingly diiliciilt 

 to arrange them in any systematic or regnltir seiinence, or to acciinitely 

 define tlu'ir boundaries. In the />/r(/.s of Xort/i AiniTicd, the ^Mocking 

 Tin'ti.slu's were ]ilaced among the Wrens, on account of tiie distinct tarsal 

 sciitellic, and otiier clitiracters. We tire now, howtiver, inclined to believe, 

 with Dr. Sclater, that their place is with the recognized Tin-iUda' ; and, 

 among otiier reasons, on the ground of tlieir more deejily cleft toes, iind 

 greater extension forward of fronttil fetithers. The following synojisis of 

 tlie North American forms will serve tlie jiurpose of di^termiiiing the geneiii, 

 even if these are not arninged or combined in ti strictly natural manner. 



Aa Turdinae. — Tarsus covered anierioily with a continuous plute without 

 scales. 



AVings (h'cidedly longer than the tail, which is nearly oven. Bill con- 

 siderably shorter than the head. 



First quill usually not one for.rth the second. Wings pointed. Tarsus 

 hardly the length of head, but yet longer than middle toe; outstretched 

 toes falling short of tip of tail ........ Turdns. 



B« Mimiiiae. — Tarsi scutellat(> anli>rinrly; scales seven. 



Wings decidedlj' longer than the tail, whi(.'h is nearly even. Tarsu.s as 

 long as the head. 



Bill decidedly .shorter than the head, .scnreoly iioteheil ; wings pointecl ; 

 llrst ([uill less than half the second, third niid l()urlh longest. Claws 

 not peculiar. Ihistles proiniuent. Tarsus considerubly longer than 

 middle toe and daw. ........ Orrtiscujitix 



