KEY TO FAMILIES. 



51 



Order XVII. Passeres.— Perching Birds : Flycatch- 

 ers, Blackbikds, Jays, Obioles, Sparrows, Finches, 

 Swallows, Vireos, Warblers, Wrens, Thrushes, etc. 

 Toes four, without webs, all on the same level ; hind toe 

 as large as the middle one, its nail generally longer than 

 that of the middle one; tail of twelve feathers. 

 [The following synoptical 

 table of the oharaotera 

 of the eighteen families 

 which we have in this 



order seems more satis- 



factory than an artificial — ' ~,<^j^*^^^ 



"^•^y-] ^^^ Fia. 41. 



Family 1. TyrannidoB. — Flycatchers (Fig. 42). 



Bill wider than high at the base, 

 slightly hooked at the tip ; base 

 with conspicuous bristles; wings 

 longer than the tail, the second to 

 fourth primaries longest, the first 

 but little shorter and generally 

 equal to the fifth or sixth ; back of 

 tarsus rounded^ like tlie front ; 

 plumage generally olive-green or 

 grayish ; tail, except in the King- 

 bird, without white spots, p. 242. 

 Family 2. Alaudidce. — Larks (Fig. 43). 

 Bill rather stout and rounded ; nos- 

 trils with bristly tufts ; nail of hind 

 toe much lengthened, as long as 

 the middle toe without nail ; back 

 of the tarsus rounded like the front, 

 p. 252. 



Fig. 43. 



Family 3. Corvidoe.—CROvrs and Jays (Fig. 44). 

 Large birds, over 10-00 in length ; bill stout, the nostrils concealed by tufts 

 of bristly feathers ; fourth to fifth primary the longest, the first about half 

 as long ; outer tail-feathers shortest ; feet and legs stout, p. 253. 



