52 



KEY TO FAMILIES. 



Fig. 45. 



family 4. Siurnidas. — Star- 

 lings (Fig. 45). 

 Bill flattened, wider than 

 high at the base ; tail short 

 and square; wings long 

 and pointed, second pri- 

 mary longest, the first very 

 small, less than half an 

 inch in length, p. 259. 



Family 5. Meridm. — Blackbieds, Obioi.es, etc. (Fig. 46). 

 Length 7-00-17'00 ; base of the bill, befween the nostrils, extending back- 

 ward and dividing the feathers of the forehead ; nostrils not concealed by 

 bristles; first three primaries of about equal length; outer tail-feathers 

 generally shortest, p. 260. 



Family 6. FringilUdw. — Spae- 

 Rows, Finches, Gkos- 

 EEAKS, etc. (-Fig. 47). 

 Length 4-75-9'00, generally 

 under 8-00 ; bill short, stout, 

 and conical, admirably fit- 

 ted to crush seeds; third 

 and fourth primaries gen- 

 erally about the same length, 

 the first never more than 

 half an inch shorter than 

 the longest, p. 271. 



FiQ. 47. 



Family 7. Tanagridm. — Tanagees (Fig. 48). 

 Length about 7'00; the males of our species mostly red; 

 bill finchlike, but less conical, somewhat swollen, the 

 outline of the upper mandible curved, its sides with a 

 slight but generally evident " tooth " near the middle ; 

 tail-feathers of equal length, p. 316. 



Fia. 48. 



