TURDIDA — TURDINZ:: TYPICAL THRUSHES. 2438 
{. Subfamily TURDINA: Typical Thrushes. 
With the tarsus, in the adult, ‘ booted” or 
enveloped in a continuous plate, formed by fusion 
of all the tarsal scutella excepting two or three 
just above the base of the toes (fig. 36). Toes 
deeply cleft,—the inner to the very base, the 
outer coherent with the middle only for the length 
of its basal joint. Wings more or less pointed, 
longer than the tail; lst primary spurious, and 
very short; 2d longer than 6th. Bill moderate, 
shorter than the head, straight, more or less sub- 
ulate, little depressed at base, with bristly rictus. 
Fig. 115.— A typical Thrush, the European WNostrils oval, nearly or quite reached by the 
sa a a frontal feathers. (Fig. 116.)  Tail-feathers 
widening somewhat toward their ends; tail as a whole somewhat fan-shaped ; neither decidedly 
forked at the end, nor much graduated. Upwards of one hundred and fifty species are now 
usually assigned to the Turdine, most of them referable to the single genus Turdus and its 
subdivisions. They are nearly cosmopolitan, and have a great development in the warmer 
parts of America, where they are mainly represented by types closely allied to Turdus proper ; 
more aberrant forms, constituting very distinct genera, occur in the Old World. We have 
but one genus in North America, of which the robin is the most familiar, as it is a very 
characteristic, example; a species of Catharus, however, occurs very near if not actually 
over our Mexican border. The thrushes are diffused over all the woodland parts of our 
country, and are all strictly migratory insectivorous birds, though feeding also upon berries and 
other soft fruits. Though not truly gregarious, some, as the robin for instance, often collect in 
troops at favorite feeding places, or migrate in companies. They build rather rude nests, 
often plastered with mud, never pensile, but saddled on a bough or fixed on a fork, or set 
on the ground; and lay from four to six green or blue eggs, sometimes plain, sometimes 
spotted. All are vocal; and some, like the wood thrush, are exquisitely melodious. 
These birds may be taken in illustration of a character which runs through other of the 
groups of Turdide besides the Turdine proper. The young, in their first feathering, which 
is worn but a short time, are curiously speckled and streaked, in a manner quite different 
from the adults. This feature is well shown by a young robin, or blue-bird, as described 
beyond. 
TUR/DUS. (Lat. twrdus, a thrush.) TurusnEs. The characters of the typical and single 
genus represented in North America are in effect the same as those of the subfamily already 
given. The several species fall in three subgenera, which may be thus analyzed : — 
Merula. —Sexes similar. Bill notched near end, little widened at base. Tarsi little longer 
than middle toe and claw. Beneath mostly unicolor, with streaked throat. Large; stout. 
(Type, Turdus merula ; includes our robins.) 
Hesperocichla. — Sexes dissimilar. Bill unnotched. Male with a black pectoral collar. Other- 
wise like Merula. (Type, and only species, Turdus naevius.) 
Turdus. — Sexes similar. Bill notched near end, much widened and depressed at base. Tarsi 
decidedly longer than middle toe and claw. Beneath spotted. Of small stature, and rather 
slender form. 
Analysis of Species and Varieties. 
Neither spotted nor banded below, but throat streaked. (Robins. ) 
Upper parts slate-colored ; breast chestnut. 
Outer tail-feather with white tipping. (Eastern.) ....... ae 7 migratorius 1 
Outer tail-feather without decided white tipping. (Western.)....... 56+ propinguus 2 
Upper parts grayish-ash ; breast yellowish-buff. (Cape St. Lucas.). . . . 1... .confinis 3 
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