BIRDS — SYIiVICOLIDAE. 231 



Family SYLVICOLIDAE. 



Primal-iee nine; the first quill nearly aa long as the second or third. Tarsi distinctly scutellate the whole length ante- 

 riorly. Bill conical, slender, or depressed, usually half the length of head ; more or less bristled or notched. Nostrils oval or 

 rounded. Lateral toes nearly or quite equal, and shorter than the middle ; the basal joint of the middle free nearly to its base, 

 externally; united for about half, internally. 



This family is well marked by its scutellate tarsi in front, the absence of any spurious or 

 short first primary, and the rather weak, slender, conical, or depressed, sometimes decurved 

 bill. The base of the bill, with the nostrils, is not covered in any genera by setae, as in Parus, 

 Alauda, &c. In many respects there is a close relationship to some Fringillidae, and there are 

 some forms, such as the Tanagridae, which it is difficult to assign to the one family rather 

 than to the other. The chief difference, however, is to be found in the longer, slenderer, and 

 less abruptly conical bill of the Tanagers, 



The following synopsis will serve to point out the sub-families of the Sylvicolidae: 



MoTACiLLiNAB. — Bill slender. Culmen slightly concave at base. Legs long; claws but 

 little curved. Hind toe considerably longer than the middle one ; its claw much longer (twice) 

 than the middle claw; all the claws but slightly curved. Tertials elongated ; much longer 

 than the secondaries. 



Stlvicolinab. — Bill rather slender, conical, or depressed. Culmen straight or convex. 

 Hind toe shorter than the middle ; the claws all much curved. Hind claw not conspicuously 

 longer than the middle one. When the hind toe is lengthened, it is usually in the digit, 

 not the claw. Tertials generally not longer than the secondaries. 



Tanagrinab. — Bill very stout, conical, as high as broad; or considerably broader than high. 

 Tarsi short, not exceeding the hind toe. Claws much curved; the hinder scarcely larger than 

 the middle anterior. 



Sub-Family MOTACILLINAE. 



Ch. — Bill slender, shorter than the head, notched at tip ; rictus without bristles. Basal joint of middle toe entirely free 

 externally. Tarsi distinctly scutellate, longer than the middle, but nearly equal to the hind toe, which is very long, exceeding 

 all the others ; the claw slightly curved. Wing very long, pointed. First quill almost the longest ; the tertials considerably 

 longer than the secondaries. Tail emarginate. 



The colors are dull, generally brownish above, whitish beneath ; the breast spotted ; the outer 

 tail feather white. The species are readily distinguished from the larks (Alaudidae) by the tarsi 

 being acute behind and destitute of scutellae. The bill is longer, slenderer, and more depressed, 

 without any setae covering the base. 



Anthus. — Bill slender, nearly as long as the head. Toes not reaching the tip of tail. Legs 

 weak ; hind toe rather shorter than the tarsus, its claw more than half the total length. Tertials 

 longer than the fifth primary. Tail feathers broad. 



Nbocorts. — Bill stouter at base and shorter. Toes reaching nearly to tip of tail. Legs stout ; 

 hind toe as long as tarsus, much longer than in anthua, its claw half the total length. Tertials 

 rather shorter than the sixth primary. Tail feathers narrow. 



