XXVUl. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



veil known to call for comment. 



I. 



2. 



Northern Raven. 

 American Crow. 



Order i. PASSERES. Perching Birds. 

 Family i. Corvidab. Crows, Jays, Ravens. 



The members of this group are too 



I. Entirely black. 



A. Wing about 15.00. 



B. Wing about 13.00. 



II. With much 'blue in the plumage, crested. 3- Blue Jay. 



Family 2. Icteridae. Blackbirds, Orioles, etc. 

 Certain members of this group are among the most familiar of our birds, 

 filled with Crackles and Orioles all summer long, and there is no pasture or 

 Meadowlarks. . . j r n 



The Blackbirds, Bobolinks, and Crackles flock together m sprmg and tall, 

 Meadowlarks are seldom seen in large numbers together. 

 I. Entire under parts black, with or without metallic re- 

 flections. 



A. Tail distinctly rounded. 



B. Tail square or only slightly rounded, 



Our shade trees are 

 meadow without its 



but the Orioles and 



13. Bronzed Qrackle. 



Entire plumage bluish-black. 

 A red and buff shoulder-patch. 



3. Head, n€ck and throat seal-brown. 



4. Nape bufify, back with much white. 



II. Under parts black and white, or black with buffy tips to 

 feathers. 



A. Under parts streaked black and white. 



B. Under parts black, nape buffy, back with white. 



C. Whole body tipped with rusty. 



in. Under parts slate-color, chestnut or buffy. 



A. Under parts slate-color. 



1. Wing over 4.25. 



2. Wing less than 4.00. 



B. Under parts buffy or chestnut. 



1. Under parts chestnut. 



2. Under parts buffy. 



IV. Under parts with yellow or orange. 



A. Throat black. 



1. Back black. 



2. Back greenish. 



B. Breast with a black crescent. 



C. Head, neck, throat and breast yellow or orange. 



D. Under parts entirely yellow or orange, 



1. Rump and tail orange. 



2. Upper parts greenish. 



3. Upper parts brownish, streaked. 



12. Rusty Blackbird. 

 7 & 8. Red=winged Blackbird and 



Thick=billed Redwing. 

 5. Cowbird. 

 4. Bobolink. 



7. Red=winged Blackbird. 

 4. Bobolink. 

 12. Rusty Blackbird. 



13. Rusty Blackbird. 

 5. Cowbird. 



Orchard Oriole. 

 Bobolink. 



10. 



4- 



II. 

 10. 



9- 

 6. 



10. 



II. 



4- 



Baltimore Oriole. 

 Orchard Oriole. 

 Meadowlark. 

 Yellow°headed Blackbird. 



Orchard Oriole. 

 Baltimore Oriole. 

 Bobolink. 



Family 3. FringiIvLidae. Sparrows, Finches, Buntings, etc. 



This is the largest and most varied family of North American Birds. In it are found some of 

 the plainest as well as some of the most brilliantly colored of our birds. Here are grouped those 

 with sweet and varied songs as well as those whose voices can scarcely be distinguished from the 

 shrilling of insects. Some are lowly in habits, nesting on the ground or even scooping out a hollow 

 in which to nest, while some lash their cradles to the topmost twigs of tall trees. All members of 

 the family eat seeds or grains, but all of them also eat some insects. In early spring many species 

 eat the tender buds of trees. Several species eat more insects than vegetable matter. None (except 

 the English Sparrow) seem to be injurious, while all do great service to agriculture in destroying 

 vast quantities of weed seeds. 

 I. With conspicuous red in the plumage. 

 A. Mandibles crossed. 



1. With conspicuous white wing-bars. 19. White=winged Crossbill. 



2. Without white wing-bars. 18. American Crossbill. 



