KEY TO FAMILIES. 



51: 



Al- 



KOOB 



and 



e or 

 37), 



IDS. 



bill 

 ind 



m; 



00- 



er. 



Order XVH* Passeres.— Perching Birds: Flycatch- 

 ers, Blackbirds, Jays, Orioles, Si'aurows, Finches, 

 Swallows, Vireos, Warblers, Wrens, Tiikusmes, etc. 

 Toes four, without welm, all on the same level ; hind too 

 as large as the middle one, its nail generally longer than 

 that of the middle one; tail of twelve feathers. 

 [The following synoptieal 

 table of the eharaeters 

 of the eighteen families 

 which we have in this 

 order seems more satis- 

 factory than an artiiiciul 



^'^'■^ C F.O. 41. 



Family 1. I'yrannidoE. — Flycatchers (Fig. 42). 



Bill wider than high at the J)nso, 

 slightly hooked at the tip ; ba.se 

 with conspicuous bristles; wings 

 longer than the tail, the second to 

 fourth primaries longest, the first 

 but little shorter and generally 

 equal to the flftli or sixth ; back of 

 tarsus rounded, like the front ; 

 plumage generally olive-green or 

 grayish ; tail, except in the King- 

 bird, without white spots, p. 242. 



Fio. 42. 



Family 2. Alaudida,. — Larks (Fig. 43). 

 Bill rather stout and rounded ; nos- 

 trils with bristly tufts ; nail of hind 

 toe much lengthened, as long as 

 the middle too without nail ; back 

 of the tarsus rounded like the front, 

 p. 252. 



^U^^^^=^^^^^"^ 



rio. 43. 



Family S, Corvidee. — Crows and Jays (Fig. 44). y 



Large birds, over lO'OO in length ; bill stout, the nostrils concealed by tufts 

 of bristly feathers; fourth to tifYh primary the longest, the first about half 

 as long ; outer tail-feathers shortest ; feet and legs stout, p. 253. 



