Order XVII
Passeres. - Perching Birds: FLYCATCH- ERS, BLACKBIRDS, JAYS, ORIOLES, SPARROWS, FINCHES, SWALLOWS, VIREOS, WARBLERS, WRENS, THRUSHES, etc.
Toes four, without webs, all on the same level; hind toe as large as the middle one, its nail generally longer than that of the middle one; tail of twelve feathers. [The following synoptical table of the characters of the eighteen families which we have in this order seems more satisfactory than an artificial key.] Family 1. Tyrannida. - FLYCATCHERS (Fig. 42).
FIG. 42. ட 2 Family 2. Alaudida. - LARKS (Fig. 43).
Bill rather stout and rounded; nostrils with bristly tufts; nail of hind toe much lengthened, as long as the middle toe without nail; back of the tarsus rounded like the front, p. 252.
FIG. 41.
Bill wider than high at the base, slightly hooked at the tip; base with conspicuous bristles; wings longer than the tail, the second to fourth primaries longest, the first but little shorter and generally equal to the fifth or sixth; back of tarsus rounded, like the front; plumage generally olive-green or grayish; tail, except in the Kingbird, without white spots, p. 242. 스 FIG. 43. a a b FIG. 44.
Family 3. Corvidæ.-Crows and Jays (Fig. 44).
Large birds, over 10.00 in length; bill stout, the nostrils concealed by tufts of bristly feathers; fourth to fifth primary the longest, the first about half as long; outer tail-feathers shortest; feet and legs stout, p. 253. 2 KEY TO FAMILIES. 37.
Family 4. Sturnida.-STAR- LINGS (Fig. 45).
Bill flattened, wider than high at the base; tail short and square; wings long and pointed, second primary longest, the first very small, less than half an inch in length, p. 259.
FIG. 45. a b ÷ C FIG. 46. a Family 5. Icterida. - BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, etc. (Fig. 46). Length 7.00-17.00; base of the bill, between the nostrils, extending backward and dividing the feathers of the forehead; nostrils not concealed by bristles; first three primaries of about equal length; outer tail-feathers generally shortest, p. 260. ; a b d e FIG. 47.
C f Family 7. Tanagride. -TANAGERS (Fig. 48).
Family 6. Fringillida.-SPAR- ROWS, FINCHES, GROS- BEAKS, etc. (Fig. 47).
Length 4.75-9-00, generally under 8.00; bill short, stout, and conical, admirably fitted to crush seeds; third and fourth primaries generally about the same length, the first never more than half an inch shorter than the longest, p. 271.
Length about 7.00; the males of our species mostly red; bill finchlike, but less conical, somewhat swollen, the outline of the upper mandible curved, its sides with a slight but generally evident "tooth " near the middle; tail-feathers of equal length, p. 316.
FIG. 48.
KEY TO FAMILIES.
Family 8. Hirundinida. -SWALLOWS (Fig. 49).
Bill short and flattened, much wider than high at the base; no bristles at the base of the bill; wings long and pointed, tips, when closed, generally reaching beyond the end of the tail; first primary the longest; outer tailfeathers longest; feet small, tarsus short, round in front, narrower and sharper in the back, p. 318.
FIG. 49.
Family 9. Ampelida. - WAXWINGS (Fig. 50).
Plumage generally soft, brownish gray or grayish brown; a black band across the forehead and through the eyes; tail tipped with yellow; bill short, notched at the tip; head conspicuously crested, p. 323.
FIG. 50.
Family 10. Laniida. SHRIKES (Fig. 51).
Grayish birds, 8.00-9.00 in length, most of the tail-feathers tipped with white; bill hooked and hawklike, p. 325.
Family 11. Vireonida. - VIREOS (Fig. 52).
Small birds, 5.00- 7.00 in length, with generally olivegreen backs; tailfeathers without white spots; bill rather stout, higher than broad at the a b FIG. 52. base, the tip of the upper mandible notched and hooked, bristles at the base of the bill barely evident; tarsi scaled, round in front, narrower and sharper behind; toes united at the base, p. 327.
C 4 Family 12. Mniotiltide. - WOOD WAR- BLERS (Fig. 53).
Small birds, length generally under 6.00, but in four species 6.50-7.50, with, as a rule, brightly colored e FIG. 51. d b FIG. 53.
KEY TO FAMILIES. plumage, olive-green or yellow being the most frequent; bill various, never notched at the tip, usually slender and sharply pointed, without conspicuous bristles, but sometimes flattened and broader than high at the base, when the bristles are evident (thus resembling the bill of a true Flycatcher, but the back of the tarsus is always thin 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. 333.
FIG. 54.
Family 14. Troglodytidæ. - THRASH- ERS, WRENS, etc. (Fig. 55).