BIRDS — SYLVICOLIDAE. 
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Family SYLVICOLIDAE. 
Primaries nine; the first quill nearly as long as the second or third. Tarsi distinctly scutellate the whole length ante- 
riorly. Bill conical, slender, or depressed, usually half the length of head ; more or less bristled or notched. Nostrils oval or 
rounded. Lateral toes nearly or quite equal, and shorter than the middle ; the basal joint of the middle free nearly to its base, 
externally; united for about half, internally. 
This family is well marked by its scutellate tarsi in front, the absence of any spurious or 
short first primary, and the rather weak, slender, conical, or depressed, sometimes decurved 
bill. The base of the bill, with the nostrils, is not covered in any genera by setae, as in Parus, 
Alauda, &c. In many respects there is a close relationship to some Fringillidae, and there are 
some forms, such as the Tanagridae, which it is difficult to assign to the one family rather 
than to the other. The chief difference, however, is to be found in the longer, slenderer, and 
less abruptly conical bill of the Tanayers. 
The following synopsis will serve to point out the sub-families of the Sylvicolidae: 
Motacillinae. — Bill slender. Culmen slightly concave at base. Legs long; claws but 
little curved. Hind toe considerably longer than the middle one ; its claw much longer (twice) 
than the middle claw; all the claws but slightly curved. Tertials elongated ; much longer 
than the secondaries. 
Sylvicolinak. — Bill rather slender, conical, or depressed. Culmen straight or convex. 
Hind toe shorter than the middle ; the claws all much curved. Hind claw not conspicuously 
longer than the middle one. When the hind toe is lengthened, it is usually in the digit, 
not the claw. Tertials generally not longer than the secondaries. 
Tanagrinae. — Bill very stout, conical, as high as broad; or considerably broader than high. 
Tarsi short, not exceeding the hind toe. Claws much curved; the hinder scarcely larger than 
the middle anterior. 
Sub-Family MOTACILLINAE. 
Ch. — Bill slender, shorter than the head, notched at tip; rictus without bristles. Basal joint of middle toe entirely free 
externally. Tarsi distinctly scutellate, longer than the middle, but nearly equal to the hind toe, which is very long, exceeding 
all the others ; the claw slightly curved. Wing very long, pointed. First quill almost the longest ; the tertials considerably 
longer than the secondaries. Tail emarginate. 
The colors are dull, generally brownish above, whitish beneath; the breast spotted; the outer 
tail feather white. The species are readily distinguished from the larks (Alaudidae) by the tarsi 
being acute behind and destitute of scutellae. The bill is longer, slenderer, and more depressed, 
without any setae covering the base. 
Anthus. — Bill slender, nearly as long as the head. Toes not reaching the tip of tail. Legs 
weak ; hind toe rather shorter than the tarsus, its claw more than half the total length. Tertials 
longer than the fifth primary. Tail feathers broad. 
Neocorys. — Bill stouter at base and shorter. Toes reaching nearly to tip of tail. Legs stout ; 
hind toe as long as tarsus, much longer than in anthus, its claw half the total length. Tertials 
rather shorter than the sixth primary. Tail feathers narrow. 
