CHAPTER Vll. 



THE PASSERINE SUB-FAMILIES. 



THE sub-families of the Passeridoe are distinguishable as follows, 

 the remiges being 18 or 19, except where stated : 



OriOLIN^ (Golden Oriole) — bright yellow, with black wings and 



tail, remiges often 20. 72. 

 Icterina; (Red-winged Starling) — glossy black with scarlet wing 



coverts. 119. 

 PanuriNjE (Bearded Tit) — black pointed moustache, long rufous 



tail. 49 . 

 AMPELiNiE (Waxwing) — red waxy tips to secondaries ; erectile 



crest. 77. 

 ClNCLiN^ (Dippers) — dense fibrous blackish plumage, with 



undercoat of down ; white throat ; concave wings ; two toes 



united. 47, 48. 



These five sub-families are unmistakable, the rest can be divided 

 into — 



1. First primary quite half as long as second. 



2. First primary obsolete or minute. 



3. First primary less than half as long as second. 



First primary quite half as long as second — 



TroGLODYTIN^ (Wren) — plumage lony and soft; wings 



concave ; two toes united. 59. 

 CorviNjE (Raven, Crows, Jackdaw, Jay, and Magpie) — wings 



flat ; remiges 19 to 22 ; plumage close and glossy. 122-131. 



First primary obsolete or minute — 



FRINGlLLlNyE (Finches) — bill short and conical; gape line 



straight or arched ; remiges iS. 87-108. 

 EMBERIZlNiE (Buntings) — bill short and conical ; gape line 



angular ; palate knobbed. 109-1 18. 

 MOTAClLLIN^ (Wagtails and Pipits) — bill narrow and slender; 



legs long; tail long. 60-71. 

 SturniNjE (Starlings) — metallic plumage with spots ; bill 



straight and slender. 120, 121. 

 HiRUNDlNlNiE (Swallows) — bill wide; legs short ; wings long; 



tail forked. 81-84. 

 A'L.W'DmJE (Larks) — remiges often 20 ; secondaries long ; 



tarsus scuiellate back and front. 132-137. 



