194 VERTEBRATES 



primaries lO, the first about as long as second. (Clamatores.) 

 B. Inner toe free at base from middle toe; tarsus not reticulate 

 behind; bill hooked at tip, with long rictal bristles. 



Tyrannidae, The Flycatchers. 



AA. Tarsus with its hinder edge compressed, forming a sharp, 



nearly undivided ridge (except in the Larks, which may be known 



by the long, nearly straight hind claw) ; musical apparatus highly 



develoxjed ; primaries properly ten, but the first short, or spurious, 



or sometimes rudimentary and misplaced, so that but nine are 



evident, in which case the first developed primary is about as long 



as second. (Oscines.) 



C. Hinder edge of tarsus not compressed, rounded and scutel- 



late like anterior edge; hind claw very long, straightish; 



developed primaries 9 Alaudidae, The Larks. 



CC. Hinder edge of tarsus compressed, forming a sharp ridge, 

 for the most part undivided. 



D. Primaries apparently but 9 (the first minute and dis- 

 placed) ; the first developed {i. e. second) primary about as 

 long as the next ; bill not hooked at tip. 

 E. Bill not fissirostral, the gape little longer than the 

 culmen ; outer primary never twice as long as inner. 

 F. Bill " conirostral," stout at base, with the commissure 

 forming a more or less distinct angle at base of bill, 

 " the corners of the mouth '' drawn downward. 

 G. Bill rather long, often longer than head, without 

 notch at tip or bristles at the rictus. 



Icteridae, American "Orioles," and "Blackbirds." 

 GG. Bill shorter than head, often notched near tip, 

 and usually with bristles at the rictus. 



Fringillidae, The Finches. 

 FF. Bill not truly conirostral (the corners of the mouth 

 not evidently drawn downward). 



H. Bill stout (conical in our species, the cutting 

 edge with one or more lobes or nicks near its 

 middle) ; nostrils placed high, exposed ; (plumage 

 chiefly red or yellow, in our species). 



Tanagridae, The Tanagcrs. 



