BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. . 549 



rounded, the rectrices broadly rounded at tip. Tarsus decidedly longer 

 than exposed culmen, one-third to more than two-fifths'* as long as 

 wing, the acrotarsium distinctly scutellate, the planta tarsi booted; 

 middle toe, with claw, decidedly shorter than tarsus; outer toe slightly 

 longer than inner, reaching (without claw) a little beyond second 

 (subterminal) joint of middle toe, its claw falling short of base of 

 middle claw, the inner toe reaching to but scarcely, if any, beyond 

 subterminal joint of middle toe; hallux (without claw) about as long as 

 outer toe (without claw) but much stouter, its claw decidedly shorter 

 than digit; basal phalanx of middle toe adherent to outer toe for two- 

 thirds its length or more, to inner toe for nearly as much. 



Coloration. — Above plain brown or brownish gray, the remiges 

 narrowly and indistinctly (sometimes obsoletely) barred with dusky; 

 middle rectrices gray or grayish brown narrowly barred with dusky, 

 the remaining rectrices largely blackish or dusky with tip blotched 

 with pale gray or whitish, or else (in T. insularii) without uniform 

 black or duskj' on outer rectrices, their terminal portion irregularly 

 marked with pale brownish gray and dusky; rump with concealed 

 roundish spots of white; a conspicuous superciliary stripe and under 

 parts whitish, the latter sometimes grayish or grayish brown laterally; 

 under tail-coverts more or less barred with dusky. 



Nidification. — So far as known, the nest placed in cavities, usually 

 in trees, stumps, or logs, or about buildings; eggs white, speckled 

 with reddish brown. 



Range. — Lower Austral and Transition life-zones of North America, 

 and greater part of Mexico, including Yucatan, Socorro Island, and 

 Guadalupe Island. (Four species.) 



KEY TO THK SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OP THKYOMANES. 



a. Superciliary stripe sharply defined and conspicuous, white; inner webs of rectrices 

 ' (except middle pair) black, broadly tipped with mottled gray and white. 

 h. Larger (with relatively shorter wing and tail) with much larger bill (exposed 

 culmen 17.5-19). (Yucatan and adjacent parts of Guatemala.) 



Thryomanes albinuoha (p. 551) 

 65. Smaller (with relatively longer wing and tail), with much smaller bill 

 (exposed culmen 12-16). 

 c. Larger, with smaller bill and longer tail; tail 46-64 mm. {Thryomanes 

 beunckii. ) 

 d. Smaller (wing and tail averaging less than 55). 

 e. Color of upper parts more reddish brown. 

 /. Wing longer, bill and tarsus shorter; color of upper parts more chestnut 

 brown; ^ adult male averaging, wing 54.1, tail 52.3, exposed culmen 

 13.4, tarsus 17.9; adult female averaging, wing 52.2, tail 51.5, exposed 

 culmen 13.6, tarsus 17.4. (Eastern United States, chiefly south of 

 40°. ) Thryomanes bewickii bewickii (p. 552) 



« In the insular species, T. hrevicaudus and T. insularis. 



b It is of course necessary to compare specimens in corresponding seasonal plumage. 

 Specimens in fresh autumnal plumage, or even those taken during winter, are much 

 "w^mer" brown than those taken in spring and summer, when the plumage is 



