/■ 

 TUEBIB^ — TUBDINJS : TYPICAL THRUSHES. 243 



I. Subfamily TURDIN/E: Typical Thrushes. 



With the tarsus, in the adult, "booted" or 

 enveloped in a continuous plate, formed by fusion 

 of all the tarsal scutella excepting two or three 

 just above the base of the toes (fig. 36). Toes 

 deeply cleft, — the inner to the very base, the 

 outer coherent with the middle only for the length 

 of its basal joint. Wings more or less pointed, 

 _, ,^^^___^_ intwmKK^i^^^KtsiSAMn^ longer than the tail ; 1st primary spurious, and 

 jiyi/ijII/KSUBli^S^ '^^'7 short ; 3d longer than 6th. BiU moderate, 



• tOmRhwH^M^^'B^ 'SBWMHiBKtSr shorter than the head, straight, more or less sub- 

 ulate, little depressed at base, with bristly rictus. 

 Fis. 115. — A typical Thrunh, the European Nostrils oval, nearly or quite reached by the 

 BlacibM [TurdusmenUa). From Dixon. ^^^^^^^ ^^^^j^g^^ ^pj^ ^-^g ^ Tail-feathers 



widening somewhat toward their ends; tail as a whole somewhat fan-shaped ; neither decidedly 

 forked at the end, nor much graduated. Upwards of one hundred and fifty species are now 

 usually assigned to the Twrdimm, most of them referable to the single genus Titrdus and its 

 subdivisions. They are nearly cosmopolitan, and have a great development in the warmer 

 parts of America, where they are mainly represented by types closely allied to Twrdms proper ; 

 more aberrant forms, constituting very distinct genera, occur in the Old World. We have 

 but one genus in North America, of which the robin is the most familiar, as it is a very 

 characteristic, example; a species of Catha/rus, however, occurs very near if not actually 

 over our Mexican border. The thrushes are diffused over aU the woodland parts of ciur 

 country, and are all strictly migratory insectivorous birds, though feeding also upon berries and 

 other soft fruits. Though not truly gregarious, some, as the robin for instance, often coUect in 

 troops at favorite feeding places, or migrate in companies. They buUd rather rude nests, 

 often plastered with mud, never pensile, but saddled on a bough or fixed on a fork, or set 

 on the ground; and lay from four to six green or blue eggs, sometimes plain, sometimes 

 spotted. AU are vocal ; and some, like the wood thrush, are exquisitely melodious. 



These birds may be taken in illustration of a character which runs through other of the 

 groups of TwrdideB besides the TwrdAruB proper. The young, in their first feathering, which 

 is worn but a short time, are curiously speckled and streaked, in a manner quite different 

 from the adults. This feature is well shown by a young robin, or blue-bird, as described 

 beyond. • 



1. TUB'DUS. (Lat. <MrdMS, a thrush.) Thrushes. The characters of the typical and single 

 genus represented in North America are in effect the same as those of the subfamily already 

 given. The several species fall in three subgenera, which may be thus analyzed : — 

 Merula. — Sexes similar. BiU notched near end, Uttle widened at base. Tarsi Uttle longer 

 than middle toe and claw. Beneath mostly unicolor, with streaked throat. Large ; stout. 

 (Type, Tv/rdus merula ; includes our robins.) 



Hesperoddhla. — Sexes dissimilar. BOl unnotched. Male with a black pectoral coUar. Other- 

 wise like Merula. (Type, and only species, Turdus naevius.) 



Turdus. — Sexes similar. BiU notched near end, much widened and depressed at base. Tarsi 

 decidedly longer than middle toe and claw. Beneath spotted. Of smaU stature, and rather 



slender form. 



Analysis qf Species and Varieties. 



Neitlier spotted nor banded below, but throat streaked. (Bobins. ) 



Upper parts slate-colored ; breast chestnut. 



Outer tail-feather with white tipping. (Eastern ) migratorims 1 



Outer tail-feather without decided white tipping. (Western.) propinquus 2 



Upper parts grayish-ash ; breast yellowish-buff. (Cape St. Lucas.) confinis 3 



