64 



F. Bill conoid; if compressed the tip slightly hooked, and if 

 slender with a notch on upper cutting edge near tip, or the 



tip acute •'. . (H) 



F. Bill slender ; if deep the eulmen much curved, and if ap- 

 proaching conoid the corners of the mouth not turned 



downward (G) 



G. Tertials nearly as long as primaries Motacillidae. 



G. Tertials not nearly as long as primaries Mniotiltidae. 



H. Rictal bristles obsolete; bill not notched at tip Icteridae. 



H. Rictal bristles present; bill notched at tip or nostrils feathered (I) 



I. -Corners of mouth turned abruptly downward Fringillidae. 



I. Corners of mouth not turned downward Tanagridae. 



J. Front of tarsus a single continuous plate except at extreme 



base : (T) 



J. Front of tarsus divided into foursided scales (K) 



K. Bill very strongly hooked, and toothed near tip Laniidae. 



K. Bill not hooked, or but slightly so (L) 



L. Tarsus not longer than middle toe with claw, bill short, de- 

 pressed Ampelidae. 



L. Tarsus longer than middle toe with claw, or else bill elongated, 



not depressed (M) 



M. Tail feathers stiff and pointed at tips Certhiidae. 



M. Tail feathers not stiff nor especially pointed (N) 



' N. Nasal feathers erect, not covering the nostrils (O) 



N. Nasal feathers directed forward, usually covering the nostrils . . (R) 

 O. Hind toe longer than outer toe Troglodytidae. 



0. Hind toe not longer than outer toe (P) 



P. Basal joint of middle toe joined to lateral toes. . .Vireonidae (pt.) 



P. Basal joint of middle toe mostly free from lateral toes (Q) 



Q. Wing under 2£ inches Sylviidae (Polioptilinae) — over 3i inches. .Mimidae. 



R. Hind toe longer than outer toe, its claw large Sittidae 



R. Hind toe not distinctly longer than outer toe (S) 



S. Wing under 4 inches Paridae — over 4 inches Corvidae. 



T. Without rictal bristles; nostrils linear; tail very short. . Cinclidae. 



T. With distinct rictal bristles; nostrils oval ; tail normal (U) 



XJ. Wing under 3 inches Sylviidae (Sylviinse, Regulinae) — over 3 inches 



Turdidae. 



Family TYRANNID-SI— Flycatchbes 



1. Tail very long, over 7 inches, forked for $ its length; ashy, with 



scarlet sides Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. 



1. Tail shorter, under 5 inches, only slightly forked, or square (2) 



2. Larger, wing 3} to 5 inches long (3) 



2. Smaller, wing 3£ or less, down to 2\ (12) 



3. Crown with a concealed orange patch (4) — without a bright colored 



patch (6) 



