86 NORTH A^^ERICAN BIRDS. 



Family PARIDiE. — The Titmice. 



Char. Bill {rcnpr.illy short, conical, not notched nor deciirved at tip. Cnlmcn broad 

 and ronndi'd, not sliari)-i'idf;ed at l>ase. Nostrils roundi'd, l)asnl, and concealed by dense 

 bristles or bristly feathers. Loral feathers roiiij;h anil bristly, dire(;ted forwards. Tarsi 

 distinctly scutellate ; basal joints of anterior toes abbreviated, that of ini<ldle toe iniited 

 about ecjually for three fourths its lenjith to the lateral: in Pnriitiv Ibrniinpr a kind of palm 

 for [ri-as])inf,' ; outer lateral toe decidedly lonjrer than tlie inner. Priniarit .s ten, the first 

 nnich shorter than the second. Tail-fuuthcrs with soil tips. Nest in holes of trees ; epffs 

 white, spotted with reddish. 



Witli Cabanis we include the Nutliatclics in the same family with the 

 Tiimice, and have prepared tlie altove diagnosis to embrace both groujis. 

 They agree in having a conical bill, not notched nor dcciirved, with much 

 rounded culmen, and nearly straight commissure, and rounded nostrils cov- 

 ered with dense bristles. These cliaracters will re.adily distinguish them, in 

 connection with the ten primaries, and tarsi with scutellaB on tlie anterior 

 half only (as compared with Alaitdiilir), from any other American Oscincs. 



The two subfainilies may be thus distinguished : — 



Pariuas. Body compressed. Bill shorter than the head. Win^s rounded, equal to or 

 shorter than the rouniled tail. Second ((uill as short as thi; tenth. Tarsus lon<i;er than 

 the middle toe and claw, which are about equal to tlie liinder ; soles of toes widened 

 into a palm. Plumage rather soft and lax. 



Sittinae. ]3ody depressed. Bill about ecpial to or longer than the head. Wings much 

 pointed, much longer than the nearly even tail. Tarsus shorter than the middle toe 

 and claw, which are about equal to tixe hinder. Plumage more compact. 



Subfamily FARINiE. 



The charactei"s of the subfamily will be found sufficiently detailed above. 

 The genera are as follows : — 



Hill with curved ontJiiies. 



Head with a long ])ointed crest. Wings and tail rounded. 



Body full and large. Tail aliout equal to wings .... Lophnphaiie.i. 

 Head with feathers full, l)ut not {westetl. Wings and tail rounded. 



Body full. Tail about ('([ual to wings ; rounded Parun. 



Body slender. Tail much longer than wings ; nnich graduated . Pmltrij)ariis. 



Bill toilh outlines nearly straight. 

 Head with compact feathers. AVings pointed. 



Body slender. Tail rather shorter than the wings ; nearly even . Auri2>arHs. 



Genus LOPHOFHANES, Kaup. 



Uphophineji, Kaitp, Kiitw. Ocsili. Knrop. Tliicrwelt, 1829. (Typo, Partts cristalus.) 

 Jiaiulupliiis,^.\\KAS\>t, Mu.s. Hi-in. 18,50, 1851, 01. (Typo, Parius bicolor, L.) 



