TANAGIUD.E — THK TA\A(iEI!S. 



431 



Family TANAGRID^. — Tiik Ta\a(;i;i!.s. 



CllAi!. Piiiiiiirics iiiiic. Mill iisiiiilly (•,,iiic:il, siiiii(.|iiii,.s (l,.|,ivssc(l iir iitlcimatiMl, usually 

 iMoiv „v li'ss Imu-ulai' Ml, liasc. iui.l willi tli,. cuttiu- cd.ws n<.l umi,-1i iullcci,.,! ; souiutinics 

 tootliud or iiotchoil. J.ogs short ; oliiws curvril ; culors usually hrilliaut. 



AVe cniifcss our oiitiro iiial)ility t<i ]»re.s('iit ii diit-iidsis tliiit shall dctiiie 

 and S(>i)aral(' satistaclurily l>y external characters the closely allied laniilies 

 of Caruhii/a; Siilnmliihr, Tinntiiriilii , and Fn'ii;ji7/i(/(r, ai^reeiiio- as thev ilo in 

 the main in every respect. The only attempt at ilistinction is based upon 

 the shape of the hill, and this in what are -enerally called T<tnn,iridw pre- 

 sents every variety of slia|ie, iVoni the atteiniation seen in Dnidroin, to the 

 stoutest form of iliG Fri,i;/i7/u/,r. The Cnnhiihr have ])eculiarities of tiie 

 tono-ue, not apprecialile, however, in the skin. In view, therefore, of the dif- 

 ficulty in question, we sliall copy the conventional names and unsatisfactory 

 definitions of other authors, in our inability to present a satisfactory arran.ne- 

 ment (jf our own. 



Cams and (Jersta'cker in Tfandbuch der Zooloyie, I, 277, adopt a classili- 

 cation of the Osvinrs based on the palatine bones in which Frunjilluhc and 

 TaiKiiirid'i' are distinguished fr<im tiie Siilricolidw as follows: 



Pulionler OS('I\K,<. Scmikvam.. Of tli,. ten priiuancs. ilic lirst is short, rudinirntary, 

 or wautiuy:; the iiuuilicr of sccoiidarii's is rarely iiioro than nine. Tai.sus .Mitircly hooted, 

 orclse with an undividc.l plati-on the sides. Lower Ira.'hea eouii.lelely lormcd hy the 

 help of the trachea and hroiiehiie ; .generally with Iniu' pairs of ujuseles, distrihuted before 

 and behind. 



Guoi'p I. SpFzoi .s-ATM.r.. Ouler lamella of the palatine bone developed in a verlii/al 

 plane, with tlie hinder b,,rd.>r more or less eniarj;inated ; ihe anterioi- palatine proecss 

 broad, and united by a truncaied border to the hi-h and broad upper mandible. 



Famu.y 1. Phiniihv. Ten primaries. 

 ^ Famu.y 2. FniKjWU'a: \\\\\ encireled liy a more or loss distiuet .swellin,;: at base. 

 Frontal f..alheis not formin.u' lateral angles. Eilovs of the jaws di'awu in .-is far iis (be .-or- 

 ner of the mouth ; nine [.i-imaries ; the lirst three usually h,n-est. Ia-s with undivided 

 plates liehincl. 



Fa.mii.v ;i. TiiHwiniJo: Bill more or les< tri.ui-ular at llu' lias(\ Culiuen always more 

 or less eiu'ved. Frecpi.mily a ti.olh or noleb in ihe upper bill, somelimcs fnie serralions. 

 AViu-s moderate; .somewhat pointed; primaries nine. Tarsus and toes siM.rl am! sl,.ut. 

 Hind I'll' stout and loni;-. Claws eurxcd. 



Ulioce II. roif.KouN.VTii.K. I'alatine bou, broad and rather Hat behind, ihe external 

 annies proh.n^vd, not extendi'd into .a verlieal plale. liase of bill M-eiiei.-dly narrower. 

 Primaiies nine or tiMi. This seeiioe cudiiaees. of North Anieiiean forms: — 



-^biiotillida', ('a■■■ebida^ Cerlbii.la-. 



Motaeillidie, Ilirnmlinida', I'arida-, 



•^'"'•'li'liv, Anipeliila", lelerida-, 



Sylvlidi-j, Laniida-, Cor.ida-! 



Turdida-, Troulodylidre, 



all of which have already been described in the [iresent work, witn ibe exeepliou of the 

 lust two. 



