LAND BIRDS. 389 
Order XVII. PASSERES. Perching Birds. 
This, by far the largest order represented in the state, contains nineteen 
families and about one hundred and fifty species, or approximately one-half 
the bird-species of the state. Although known collectively as Perching 
Birds or The Perchers, they are by no means the only birds which perch, 
and moreover many species within the order are mainly if not entirely 
terrestrial, for example the Horned Larks, the Tit-lark, the Longspurs 
and afew others. Eighteen of the families are grouped under the Suborder 
Oscines, or Singing Birds, the remaining family, the Tyrannide, alone repre- 
senting in Michigan the Suborder Clamatores, or Songless Perchers. 
KEY TO FAMILIES. 
1. Upper mandible distinctly hooked, toothed, or notched at tip. A, AA. 
A. The tips of mandibles crossed laterally (Fig. 111). 
Crossbills. Family 56. Fringillide. 
AA. The tips of mandibles not crossed laterally. B, BB, 
BBB. 
B. Bill strongly hooked and toothed, compressed 
(higher than wide at base), with four or five 
strong bristles on the rictus 
(upper edge of mouth near . Nee 
corner) (Fig. 180). Family 60. ae 7 = 
_— 
F 
Laniide. Shrikes. 
BB. Bill slightly hooked and toothed, 
depressed (wider than high at 
base) with four or five bristles 
rig. 130. 
on the rictus (Fig. 93). Family y < 
: 51. Tyrannide. Flycatchers. os ne 
BBB. Bill slightly hooked or notched, # (“a me 8 
about as wide as high at base. ~ Fig. 93. 
8, SS. 
S. Head with a prominent crest, 
no bristles on the rictus (Fig. 129). 
Family 59. Bombycillide. Waxwings. X 
SS Head without crest, rictus with three : 
bristles (Fig. 132.) Family 61. 
Vireonide. Vireos. : @ 
2. Upper mandible indistinctly or not at at all hooked, a 
toothed or notched at tip. C, CC. : 5 
C. Tips of folded wings reaching beyond tips of middle aS 
tail-feathers. D, DD. 3 
D. Tail more or less forked (Fig. 123), or first Fig. 129. 
primary ee o both. Family ee 
Hirundinide. Swallows. Sy 
DD. Tail square or rounded, first primary Bee 
only one-third as long as longest (Fig. 
147). Some Nuthatches. Family 69. 
Sittide. Fig. 132. 
