240 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — PASSEBES— OSCINES. 



In such cases there are also ten fully developed primaries, the first of which, if not equalling oi 

 being itself the longest, is at least two-thirds as long. (See p. 428, fig. 279.) 



These combinations of characters may be contrasted for the purpose of dividing the great 

 group Passeres into two sections, coliventionaUy denominated sub-orders. 



1. Suborder PASSERES ACEOMYODI, OR OSCINES: Singing Birds. 



Syrinx with four or five distinct pairs of intrinsic muscles, inserted at the ends of the three 

 upper bronchial half-rings, representing the acromyodian type of voice-organ, and constituting 

 a highly complex and effective musical apparatus. Side of tarsus covered with a homy plate 

 meeting its fellow in a sharp ridge behind ; front of tarsus also sometimes laminate. Prima- 

 ries ten, with the first short or spurious, or apparently only nine. 



Here belong all the North American families of Passeres, vidth the single exception of the 

 TyrannidcB, or Flycatchers, which are clamatorial (mesomyodian). The only North American 

 exceptions to the diagnosis given are afforded by the Alaudida, or Larks, and certain Troglo- 

 d/ytidee, which, with an oscine syrinx and vidng-structure, do not have a bilaminate tarsus. Of 

 our 394 Passerine species, no fewer than 363 are Oscine. The name is the Lat. os'cen, in n. 

 pi. os'cmes, divining-birds — those whose notes were regarded as augural. 



It is a question, which one of the numerous Oscine families should be placed at the head 

 of the series. Largely, perhaps, through the influence of those ornithologists who hold that 

 fusion of the tarsal envelope into one continuous plate indicates the acme of bird-structure, the 

 place of honor has of late been usually assigned to the thrushes. But only a part of the 

 thrushes themselves show this character ; on which account, probably, the rest were associated 

 by Cabanis with the wrens. It seems to me most probable that this character, though unques- 

 tionably of high import, should be taken as of less value than the reduction of the number of 

 primaries from ten to nine ; and I am at present inclined to believe that eventually some Oscine 

 family with only nine primaries — as the finches or tanagers — will take the leading position. 

 Here, however, I follow usage in the sequence of the North American families of Osdnes, as 

 follows : — TvArdidee, Chamceidts, Paridts, Sittidm, Certhiida, Troglodytidte, Alaudidee, Mota- 

 ciUidtB, Sylvieolidee, Tanagridee, Mirimdmidm, Ampelidce, Vireonidts, Lcmiidm, FringilMdee, 

 Icteridee, Corvida, Stwnidce. 



1. Family TURDID-^ : Thrushes, etc. 



The essential character of this great group of 

 Oscmes is, booted tarsi and ten primaries, the 1st 

 spurious. But such expression requires qualification, 

 for the Twrd/idiB do not show this combination vidth- 

 out exception, and birds of some other families do 

 possess it. Though it be as natural as any other 

 Oscine family of equal extent and variety, and equally 

 close relationships with other groups, it is in the 

 nature of the case insusceptible of perfect definition 

 in concise terms. The North American representa- 

 tives, however, may readily be circumscribed in a man- 

 ner enabling the student to assure himself of the family 

 to which they belong. Besides the true Thrushes, the 



Fio. iiI-Thru"slies7EuropeanReawtag ^^'^^^ ^« ^* P'^^^^'^* constituted includes the Mocking 

 {Twrdus iliacus) aud Fieldfare (T. pikms). Thrushes, Dippers, Blue-birds, Kinglets and Gnat- 

 Prom Dixon. catchers, with stray representatives of certain Old 

 World forms, the Chats and SyMnes, sometimes held to represent separate families {Saxico- 



