40 MANUAL 



long and slender, nearly straight or very little curved and 

 notched more or less distinctly at the tip, with roundish or 

 oval nostrils, and not concealed by the stiffish bristles of the 

 base of the upper mandible ; tarsus rather long and slender 

 and generally longer than the middle toe and claw, the scu- 

 tella fused into a single plate ; tail feathers twelve, rarely any 

 longer than the wings (only so in Mimus) and merely rounded. 

 It will be perceived, at a glance, that the characteristics of 

 this family are modified frequently by some such word as usu- 

 ally, generally, etc., and not boldly set forth, as are most of the 

 following families, in precise language. Yet it is one of the 

 oldest families that we have, and the hue and cry would be 

 something terrific should we cause it to disappear • still we 

 venture to predict its removal in the near future. 



Sub-family a TURDIN-S! True Thrushes 



Bill straight and shorter than the head ; nostrils oval, and 

 situated just beyond the rictal bristles ; first quill of the wing 

 truly spurious ; tail shorter than the wings; tarsus booted, 

 and in length equal to or barely longer than the middle toe 

 and claw ; wings typical of the family. 



Genus, Turdus, The True Thrushes (13 species). 

 Sub-genera, Merula, Hesperocichla, Turdus. 



[These sub-generic names are applied to different species 

 by different authors, who wish to still further separate the 

 members of the genus, and are often given the rank of true 

 genera ; the name Hylociehla is also often thus used. We pre- 

 fer the single, well-known name of Turdus for all the species 

 under the present sub-family. 



Note. — Of the many changes in Ornithological nomencla- 

 ture whieh have been made, within the past few years, that of 

 raising the above sub-genera to the rank of genera will, doubt- 

 less, in time, be fully accomplished though we look forward 

 to it with regret. The Robin and the Thrushes deserve to 

 have a decided and definite distinction : Yet so strongly does 



