BIRDS. 39 



behind (in a few cases, back of tarsus witliout ridge, and formed 

 of a few scutellse distinct from those lapping over tlie front) ; first 

 primary short, spurious or wanting, if present, not more than 

 two-thirds of the longest; musical apparatus highly developed. 

 * Primaries 10 ; the first short or spurious, 

 f Tarsus booted ; rictus with bristles. 

 a. Middle toe quite free from inner; birds ot moderate size, 

 lengtli more than 6. 

 6. Wings moderate, not reaching when folded beyond the 

 middle of tail, and not more than one-third longer 

 than tail; tip of wing formed by 3d to 6th quill; no 



blue. TuRDiDvB, 18. 



66. Wings veiy long, pointed, reaching beyond middle of 



tail, and more than half longer ; tip of wing formed 



by 3d to 4th quills ; ours chiefly blue. SAxrcOLiD.s;, 19. 



aa. Middle and inner toes connected at base; small, length 



less than 5 STLvnD.ffi), 20. 



ft Tarsus scutellate in front, 

 c. Nosti-ils concealed by tufts of antrorse, bristly feathers. 

 d. First primaiy not more than half length of second; bill 

 not notched ; length less than 8. 

 e. Bill as long as head ; wings pointed, much longer than 

 tail. . . ... SiTTiDiB, 33. 



ee. Bill much shorter than head; wings about as long as 



tail ■ Pasid«, 31. 



t?d First primary more than half length of second; bill 

 usually notched, the bristly nasal feathers branched to 

 their tips; large, length more than 8. Cokvid.b, 35. 

 cc. Nosti-ils exposed (rarely slightly overhung). 

 / Bill distinctly notched near its tip, often hooked. 



g. Tail longer than wings ; general color gi-ay or ashy- 

 brown. 

 h. Bill very stout, compressed, strongly notched, toothed 

 and abruptly hooked at tip; large, length 8 to 9. 



Laniid^, 33. 



Ml. Bill more slender, not deeply notched nor abruptly 



hooked; length 8 to 10. . . TDBDiD.ffl!, 18. 



