FAMILY OF DENTIROSTRES. 47 



even small birds. The proportional length of their wings, and the 

 extent of their flight are as variable as their habits. They have 

 four toes, three before and one behind, and occassionally, two be- 

 fore and one behind, and sometimes all four are in front; but 

 there are iiever two before and two behind, as in the next Order ; 

 and the middle toe is joined to a greater or less extent, to the 

 external toe by means of a membrane. 



2. The order of Passerinae is very numerous, and is divided 

 into five families, which may be distinguished by the following 

 characters : 



(Families.) 



The external f Notched on both sides near its ) j-. 

 toe shorter than point. S ^ 



\ 



the middle one, 

 and free for the 

 greater part of 



its length. I Without 

 Superior man- a 



dible, t notch. 



Short, wide, flattened, ) 

 horizontally, and very !> Fissirostres. 

 open. ) 



Strong and conical, J- Conirostres. 



Slender and elongated }- Tenuirostres. 



The externaltoe almost as long as the middle one, to ) 

 which it is united as far as to the psnultimate articu- > SyxDACTYLiE. 

 lation. \ 



FAMILY OF DENTIROSTRES. 



3. This family includes those Passerinae only that have the 

 beak notched on both sides near the point ; they are all insecti- 

 vorous, and most of them also eat berries and other tender 

 fruits. They have been classed according to the general form of 

 their beak, and in this way divided into many tribes, the chief of 

 which may be recognised by the following characters : 



2. Into how many families is the order of Passerinse divided ? What is 

 characteristic of the Dentirostes? How are the Fissirostres distinguished? 

 How do the Conirosters differ from the Fissirostres ? What is the character 

 of the beak in the Tenuirostres ? How are the SandactylaB distinguished 

 from the other four families of Passerinae ? 



3. What are the general characters of the Dentirostres ? (Ansioered in 

 the Table.) How are the Shrikes recognised ? By what characters are the 

 Flycatchers known? How are the Contingas distinguished? How are 

 Tanagers characterised ? What are the characters of the Ant-catchers ? 

 How are the Thrushes distinguished ? By what are the Orioles known ? 

 How are the Warblers recognised ? In what tribes of the family of Denti- 

 rostes is the external toe free ? How are Cocks cf the Rock known? 



