KEY TO FAMILIES 
131 
and narrow, and never rounded as in front) ; rarely the bill is heavier, 
more thrushlike or finchlike; second or third primary longest, the first 
little if any shorter; tail generally square, sometimes rounded, the outer 
feathers frequently blotched with white, p. 430. 
Family 13. Motacillidce . — Wagtails 
and Pipits (Fig. 71). 
No bristles over the nostrils; bill 
slender, much as in the preceding; 
hind toe-nail much lengthened, as 
long as or longer than the toe; 
first three primaries of equal length, 
p. 470. 
Family 14. MimidoB. — T hrashers, 
Mockingbirds, and Catbirds 
(Fig. 72, a, b ). 
Length 8' 00-1 2* 00; tarsus scaled; tail 
rounded, the outer feathers at least 
half an inch shorter than the middle 
ones, third to fifth primary longest, 
the first about half as long, p. 472. 
Family 15. Troglody tides . — Wrens (Fig. 
72, c, d). 
Length 4'00-6'00; bill moderate, the 
upper mandible slightly curved, no 
bristles at its base; third to fourth 
primary longest, first about half as 
long; tail short and rounded; brown 
or brownish birds with indistinctly 
barred wings and tail, p. 475. 
Fig. 72. 
Family 16. Certhiidce . — Creepers (Fig. 73). 
Bill slender and much curved ; tail-feathers 
pointed and slightly stiffened, p. 481. 
Fig. 73. 
Family 17. Sittidce . — Nuthatches (Fig. 74, 
a, b). 
Bill rather long and slender, the end of 
the lower mandible slanting slightly up- 
ward; wings long and pointed, the third 
or fourth primary the longest, the first 
very small, not an inch in length; tail short 
and square, the outer feathers blotched 
with white, p. 482. 
Family 18. Paridce . — Titmice (Fig. 74, b). 
Length 4’50-6*50; bill short, stout, and 
rounded, less than half an inch in length; 
11 
Fig. 74. 
