m 
.-Vi 
sphs 
W r - 
w 
BB^aMaSesa 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 
and tail moderately rounded ; neither very much shorter 
than the other. Size small. Color brown, etc., the wings 
and tail barred or undulated . . . VIII. Troglodytidce. J 
Tarsus distinctly scutellate. Nostrils overhung (not con- 
cealed) with bristly feathers. Rictal bristles present, 
strong. Bill powerful, compressed, strongly notched, 
toothed, and hooked. Wings and tail moderate. Large. 
Colors black, white, and gray ... XIV. Laniidae. W 
eee. Tail not scansorial. First primary less than half as long 
as the second, or about half as long, in which case the inner 
toe is cleft nearly to its base (/ and ff). 
f. Basal joint of middle toe united some distance with 
t the inner, and for half or more of its length with the 
outer toe. 
Basal joint of middle toe shorter than that of inner 
toe, and wholly adherent to both inner and outer toes. 
f|f Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw. G-onys more 
v than half the length of the lower jaw. Bill stout, high, 
compressed; notched and abruptly hooked. XII. VireonidceX 
Basal joint of middle toe not shorter than that of 
inner toe ; united to the outer for about two thirds, to 
the inner for about one half, its length. Tarsus not 
| longer than the middle toe and claw. G-onys less 
than half the length of the under jaw. Bill triangular, 
much depressed at base, moderately notched, and 
hooked at tip XIII. Ampelidce. 
Basal joint of middle toe shorter than that of the Q 
inner toe, united to the outer for about two thirds, to 
the inner for about one half, its length. Tarsus longer 
than middle toe and claw. G-onys more than half the 
length of the under jaw. Bill very w r eak and slen- 
der, little decurved or notched at tip. Very small, 
— under six inches long. (Tarsi booted in Regulus , 
distinctly scutellate in Polioptiia.) . . IV. Sylviidce.>/ 
ff. Basal joint of middle toe quite free from the inner, 
and not united with the outer more than half-way. 
Nostrils linear, low. No bristles or bristly points 
whatever about the mouth. Wings short, rounded, 
concavo-convex. Tail very short, nearly concealed 
by its coverts. Tarsi booted ... II. Cindidce. V 
Nostrils oval. Bristles or bristly points about the 
mouth. Wings very long and pointed, reaching, 
when folded, beyond the middle of the short, square, 
or emarginate tail, and one and a half times or more 
the length of the latter ; tip formed by second, third, 
and fourth quills; outer secondary reaching only 
about two thirds way to end of longest primary ; 
spurious quill very short. Tarsi booted. III. JSaxicolidce. V 
Nostrils oval. Bristles or bristly points about the 
mouth. Wings moderate, not reaching, when folded, 
beyond the middle of the tail, and not over one and 
a third times as long as the latter ; tip formed by third 
