284 
SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — PASSERES— OSCINES. 
Analysis of Subfamilies and Genera. 
MOTACILLIX.E. Point of wing formed by first 3 primaries. Tail longer or not obviously sliorter than wings, with 
narrow tapering feathers. Hind claw variable in length and curvature. Coloration black and white, or 
yellow and greenish. 
Tail decidedly longer than wings, doubly emarginate. Hind claw of ordinary length and curvature. 
Colors black, ashy, and white, in masses Motacdla 29 
Tail, if anything, shorter than wings, nearly even. Hind claw lengthened and straightened. Colors 
yellow and green, in masses Biuhjtes 30 
Anthix^. Point of wing formed by first 4 or 5 primaries. Tail decidedly shorter than wings, its feathers not 
tapering. Hind claw lengthened and straightened. Coloration brownish, the under parts streaked, upper 
usually also variegated. 
Tarsus not shorter (rather longer) than hind toe and claw. Tail moderately shorter than wing, the 
outstretched feet not reaching beyond its end Anthus 31 
Tarsus shorter than hind toe and claw. Tail only about two-thirds as long as wung, the outstretched 
feet reaching beyond its end Neocorys 32 
13. Subfamily MOTACILLIN/E : Wagtails. 
Eepresented in America by two species ; in the Old "World by nearly fifty species or vari- 
eties, chiefly belonging to the genus MotaciUa and its subdivisions or immediate allies, of 
which Budytes is one, forming a perfect connecting link between MotaciUa proper and the 
Antliince. 
29. MOTACIL'LA. (Lat. mo^a-ciZZa, wag-tail; name of some small bird.) White Wagtails. 
Tail much longer than wings, of 12 narrow, weak, tapering or almost linear feathers. First 
3 primaries about equal and longest; longest secondary (when full grown) about reaching 
their ends when the wing is closed ; these flowing secondaries narrow and tapering. Tarsi long 
and slender ; lateral toes of about equal lengths ; hind claw not particularly lengthened or 
straightened ; with its digit much shorter than the tarsus. Form remarkably lithe and slender; 
coloration black, ashy, and white, in large masses. 
86. 31. al'ba. (Lat. white. Fig. 156.) White Wagtail. (J, in summer: Head black, 
with a broad mask of white across forehead and along sides ; the black extending on the fore- 
breast ; wings blackish, with much white edging and tipping of the quills and greater coverts ; 
tail black, the two lateral feathers on each side mostly white ; back and sides ashy ; lower 
parts mostly white; bill and feet black. In winter the black more restricted, that on the fore 
breast forming a crescent spot. 9 similar, the black still more restricted, in part replaced by 
gray. Young, gray above, grayish-white below, with a gray or blackish crescent on the 
fore neck. Length about 7-25 ; wing 3.25 ; tail 3.75 ; tarsus 0.90; hind toe and claw 0.60; 
bill 0.50. A species of wide distribution in Europe and Asia, occasional in Greenland. 
86a. M. ocula'ris. (Lat. ocularis, ocular.) Siberian Wagtail. Larger, and with a black eye- 
stripe in the white mask. Occurs at Plover Bay, East Siberia, and may be expected across 
Behring's Straits. (Not in the Check List, 1882 ; since found in California.) 
30. BU'DYTES. (Or. ^ovhvTr)9, houdutes, some small bird.) Yellow Wagtail. Characters of 
MotaciUa; tail shorter, not exceeding the wing in length ; hind claw lengthened and straightish; 
hind toe and claw nearly as long as the tarsus. Coloration chiefly yellow and greenish. 
87. B. fla'vus? (Lat. j^ai'i^s, yellow. Figs. 157, 156.) Yellow Wagtail. Blue-headed 
Quake-tail. Adult : Above, yellowish-green ; below, rich 
yellow, shaded with greenish on the sides, and bleaching on 
the chin. Top and sides of head bluish -gray, enclosing a long 
white superciliary stripe ; a dusky stripe from corner of mouth 
through eye to ear-coverts. Quills of the wing dusky, the 
lesser coverts edged with the color of the back ; median and 
greater coverts showing whitish wing-bars, and inner second- 
^ „ -rrr . aries edged with the same. Tail dusky, the middle feathers 
Fig. 157. - Yellow Wagtail, , r i i .i x . • i 
nearly nat. size. (After Balrd.) edged With the color ot the back; the outer two on each side 
