350 NOUTIl AMKUICAX UIKDS. 



Wo now come to th'.\ (•(uisitlciation of tliroe families of Oseine hirds, of 

 lue-eiiiiiu'iitly deiitinistiiil type, liiiviiig certain connuon characters by wliich 

 they are ilistinj^iiishalile, with but little (hHiculty, from all others. In their 

 close relationshij) it lias been (lueslioneil by many whether they do not all 

 belong under one head, Itut they are more generally considered ilistinct. 

 The common characters, and those jjeculiar Ut each, are as follows : — 



Common ("iiahactkhs. Hill stout, iiinl coiisiilcriilily liookcil iit lip, or wiili tlic ]ioinl lit'iit 

 aliniptly (lo\viiwai-<l ; Avitli ii (li'i'|) iioU'ii, niiil soiui'linios a tooth or loliu just bfliiud tliu 

 iioU'li; tlir lip of'"" lower uiauiliWlo liki'wisc! Irdiuoutly bout up, and with a notch 

 licliind it. Tile nostrils lalcral, tho hrisllos ol' tlio luoiilii frcnorally well dcvclopcil. The 

 primaries are ten (exeepi in a lew Virms), the outer I'loni one fourth to one hall' liie sec- 

 ond. Tail variable. Tarsi senh'llale anteriorly ; sonielimes wilh a leudeuey lo division ou 

 the lateral plales; hillierlo not met with. Basal joints of toes more adherent. Separated 

 I'rom TitnliiliV by i^roater adhesiou of toes ; lh)ni 'rroijlixli/lidif by notelied and hooked 

 bill, et(;. 



A. liasal phalanx of anterior toes abbreviated ; that of median toe deeidedly .shorter than 

 the l)asal of inner, or the two biisal of outer, and adherent for its whole length on both 

 sides to llie lateral (i. e. not free at all). Lateral plates of tarsus undivided, e.'cept at 

 e.\trenie lower end. 



Vireonidae. fronys more than half the lenjjtli of lower jaw (from tip to nnjrle of 



mouliij, usually louf^er than width ol' mouth, which is nairow. Hill eouieal, much 



eompiessed, deeurved at end and notehed, bnt seareely toothed. Frontal feathers 



l>ristly and erect, or bent but .slif;htiy forward. Nostrils overhuii}; by mend)raue. 



Tarsus Ioniser Ihau middle toe anil elaw. Lateral toes fjeuerally uneipial ; outer claw 



reaehinp; half-way aloiii; middle elaw. 



B> Itasal phalanx of middle toe about as lonjj as Ihe basal of iimer, or the two basal of 



outer; fret^ (■xternaily. at least for about one third its lenfrlh, internally for about one 



half. Lateral plates of tarsus with deeided tendency to subdivision (except iu Mijiudes- 



liiitr). 



Ampelidae. (Jouys deeide<lly less Ihau half the len^'th of lower jaw, or than width 

 of mouth, wliieh is very broad and dee|ily eleft. Bill Iriaufjidar, much di'in'e.'^setl, de- 

 eurvcil at end and uolehed, with moderale thoufrli deeided tooth. Frontal feathers 

 rather .soft, .scarcely bristly or erect. Nostrils overhun^j by membrane. Tarsus equal 

 to or shorter than middle lot; and claw. Lateral toes nearly eipud; outer elaw reach- 

 inir only to base of middle elaw. 



Laiiiidae. (Jonys about half the lenu:lh of lower jaw ; about ocpial to width of niouth. 

 Bill very powerful and raploiial, mneh compressed, wilh a strongly marked hook, 

 noleli, and tooth at end. Frontal feathers very bristly, and directed forw.ard.s, so ns 

 to conceal nostrils and biise of bill. Nostrils with bony walls, except behind. Tarsus 

 lonijfer than middle toe and claw, sometimes much scutcUate on sides. Lateral claws 

 nearly eciual ; outer claw rcauhiuf!: a little beyoud base of middle claw. 



