of the United States * 
99 
Bill short, rather robust, straight, compressed, conic- 
subulate : nostrils basal, half closed by a membrane, and 
covered by small incumbent feathers. Feet rather robust; 
tarsus annulated, naked ; outer toes united at least to the 
base ; hind toe and nail largest. Tail of twelve feathers. 
Lively and active ; live in woods and on trees ; suspend 
themselves by the claws to the underside of the branches, 
some climbing up and down. Feed chiefly on insects, and 
sometimes on fruits. Breed usually in holes of trees ; very 
few build skilfully ; eggs numerous. Voice unpleasant. 
Remotely distinct from the Anthomyzi. But these being 
taken out of the linear series, connects beautifully the Tenui- 
rostres, by Sitta, to the Passerini. 
30. PARUS. 
Varus , L. Briss. Gm. Lath. 111. Cuv. Vieill . Temm. Ranz. 
Varus , JBgithalus , Mystacinus , Boie . 
Bill short, straight, robust, conic-subulate, compressed, 
entire, acute, with bristles at base ; upper mandible longer, 
rounded above, slightly curved : nostrils basal, small, round- 
ed, concealed by the small incumbent frontlet feathers: tongue 
truncated and quadrifid at tip, or entire and acute. Feet 
rather robust ; tarsus a little longer than the middle toe ; late- 
ral toes subequal ; inner free ; outer hardly united at base 
to the middle one; hind toe more robust : nails rather large, 
much compressed and acute; hind one largest. Wings 
moderate ; spurious feather short or moderate; second, third, 
fourth and fifth primaries, subequal and longest. 
Female and young generally differing but little from the 
adult male. Moult annually. Plumage long, slender. 
-F amiliar ; agile ; inquiet ; leaping irregularly from branch 
to branch, from which they often suspend themselves. 
Live in families, in woods and orchards, sitting on trees or 
marsh weeds. Feed on grains, fruits, insects and their 
larvae, in search of which they sometimes injure the buds 
of trees ; perforate seed vessels to obtain the grain ; some 
