Bulletin - United States National Museum

.r6(o,7 A_-e—'. 1. UNITED STATES NATIONAL. ^vICSKrAr.. BULLETIN UNITED STATES XATIONAE MUSEUM >;<>.. r^o. THE BIRDS. NORTH AND AHDDLK lE^OBEJaT (TKATOK,. AMER[(!A.. TRttdo-'^t^j^'^^. l>l\'ISI()\. 1)1'. i;iUI>S.. Faut L. WASHINGTON: GOVEKNMKNT PRINTING OFFKK. I. U. 1. .. '. ^.



.. SMITHSONIAN. INSTITUTIOlSr.. UNITED STATED NATIONAL MUSEUM.. BULLETIN. UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.. jN^o.. 5 0.. =%v ^'^ Sy. ^ |per\. ^'"^^. /Of. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING 1 9. 1. OFFICE..

ADVERTISEMENT. This work (Bulletin No. 50). one of a sprios of papers intended to under the charofe of, Smithsonian Institution, and deposited in the United States National is. illustrate the collections belon^-insi' to, or placed tlie. iNluseuni.. The. pul)lications of the National. Museum. consist of. two. series: the. Bulletin and the Pt'oceedlm/.s.. The. was commenced in 1875, is a scries and based for the most part upon the National Museum, They are monographic in scope. Bulletin^ publication of which. of ela])orate papers, issued separately collections in. and are devoted principall}' to the discussion of large zoological groups, bibliographies of eminent naturalists, reports of expeditions, etc. The Bulletins, issued only as volumes with one exception, are of octavo size, although a quarto form, known as the Special Bulletin, has been adopted in a fcAV instances in which a larger page was deeuied indispensable.. The Proceedings. volume of which was issued in of publication for newly anthropology and geology, descriptions of. (octavo), the first. InTs, are intended primarily as a ac(juired facts in })iology,. medium. new forms of animals and plants, discussions of nomenclature, etc. A \olume of about 1,U00 pages is issued annually for distribution to libraries, while a limited edition of each paper in the volume is printed and distributed in pamphlet form in advance. In addition, there are printed each year in the second volume of the Smithsonian Report (known as the '^ Report of the National Museum ") papers, chietiy of an ethnological character, describing collections in the National. Museum.. Papers intended for publication by the National Museum are usually referred to an Advisory Conunittee, composed as follows: Frederick W. True (chairman), William H. Holmes, George P. Merrill, James E. Benedict, Otis T. Mason, Leonhard Stejneger, Lester F. Ward, and Marcus Benjamin (editor). S. P. Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.. Washington, U.. S. A.,. Jidy. i,. 1901..

THE BIEDS NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA A DESCRIPTIVE OATALOaUE. HIGHER GROUPS, GENERA, SPECIES, AND SUBSPECIES OF BIRDS KNOWN TO OCCUR IN NORTH AMERICA, FROM THE ARCTIC LANDS TO THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA, THE WEST INDIES AND OTHER ISLANDS OF THE CARIBBEAN SEA, AND THE GALAPAGOS ARCHIPELAGO.. CrRATOK, DIVISION OF BIRDS.. Part Family. I.. FRINGILLID^— The. Finches.. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING 1901.. OFFICE..



DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD, and best systematic ornithologist; whose guiding is worth doing is worth doing well," is evident through all his works; who labored for the advancement of science, not for fame. Originator of the term "Middle America," and pioneer in the ornithology of that geographic field, his Review of American Birds, although scarcely more than begun, remains a perfect type of systematic ornithology and the model from which many later writers have drawn their inspiration. America's. principle,. first. "What. V.



PREFACE. Although preparations for the present work have been more or less some twenty years past, as time and opportunity permitted, the actual work of putting- together the vast amount of material accumulated during that period was not begun until September, 181)4, when the author was directed by Di-. G. Brown Goode, actively conducted for. Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, in charge of the National Museum, to consider of paramount importance among his official. duties the task of ''making avaihible, through publication, the. results of the ornithological. work. of the Government, as represented. in the collectibns of the Smithsonian Institution.". ing references pertaining to. more than 3,000. The labor. .species of birds,. of collat-. verifying. measuring many thousands of specimens, and other time-consuming details connected with the preparation of such a work has necessarily delayed the beginning of its publication; but most of this drudger}' having Ix^en disposed of, it is hoped that future progress may be more rapid. In the following pages the attempt is made to describe every species and subspecies, or delinable form, of bird found on the continent of North America, from the arctic districts to the eastern end of the Isthmus of Panama, together with those of the West Indies and other islands of the Caribbean Sea (except Trinidad and Tobago), and the Galapagos Archipelago; introduced and naturalized species being citations of original descriptions,. included, as well as accidental or casual visitors.. The classitication presented is essentially that of the most recent and advanced authorities,^ with such minor modifications as in the judgment of the present author seem desirable. The imperfection of our knowledge concerning the internal structure of many groups of birds, however, makes an entirely satisfactor}' classitication impossible at the present time, and that here adopted must therefore be considered as ]3rovisional only. An entirely sound classification of birds is a matter of the future, requiring vastly extended investigations in the field of avian anatomy and the expenditure of an enormous amount of time and labor in elaborating the residts. Some effort has been made to establish the proper terminology of the higher groups, no fixed rule having been followed in this respect, '. These are specially mentioned on pages. 6, 7..

PTIEFAOE.. yjjY. applied to genera and species, quite The synonymy of these higher groups, as given, tronerallv ignored. little time being available for is l)y no means complete, however, but. iuul the. its. law of priority, so. rio-idly. compilation.. among of determining the limits of families and genera partly Passeres; the among especially birds is one of great difficulty, the because also but defined, clearly not l)ecause such groups are often The matter. availmaterial necessary for determining such questions is not always "genus'' or a "family" a constitutes The question of what able.. moreover, one concerning which there is much difference of opinion among systematists, the author's views may be stated, in the in order to make clear the principles w hich have been his guide l)eing involved, and,. work. Accepting evolution as an established fact— and it is difficult to understand how anyone who has studied the subject seriously can by any possibility believe otherwise— there are no "hard and fast lines," no gaps, or ''missing links" in the chain of existing animal forms except as they are caused by the extinction of certain intermediate types: therefore, there can be no such group as a family or genus (nor any other for that matter) unless it is cut off from other groups by the existence of such a gap; because unless thus isolated it can not be These gaps being very defined, and therefore has no existence in fact. unequally distributed, it n(^c(\ssarily follows that the groups thus formed l)resent. ^. are veiy unequal in value; sometimes alternate links in the chain may bo missing; again, several in continuous sequence are gone, while occa-. numerouslinks mav be intact. Itthus happens that some famih" or generic groups seem ver}' natural or homogeneous, because the range of generic or specific variation is not great and therc^ is no near approach to the characters of another coordinate group, while others seem verj^ artificial or heterogeneous because among the many generic or specific forms none seem to have dropped out. and therefore, however great the range of variation in structural details, no division into trenchant groups is practicable not because extreme division would result, hut simply because there can be no ])ro])cr definition of groups which do not exist." In short, no group, whether of generic, family, or higher i-ank. can be valid unless it can be defined by characters which serve to distinguish it from every sionally a seriesof several or even. —. otlier.. In groups of wide geographic range. components in hand number and boundaries of. all its. iUJ. in. it is of course necessary to haAC order to determine its limits and the. its. subdivisions, for. 'In some caseH such apparent <raps are no yet unknown to science.. (lonl)t tilled. what seem. distinct. by existing forms which are. 'Certain so-ealled genera of the family I'Yingillidie afford a striking illustration..

— PBEFACE. families or genera within the limits of a fauna. IX may, when. all. the forms. of an entire continent or zoogeog-raphic '"region."' or the world at large,. are examined, be found to be connected by intermediate " extralimSometimes, however, this test proves exactly the reverse ital" forms.. Therefore, in the present work the families and genera recognized have not been based on the species belonging to North and ]VIiddle America alone, l)ut on all others that were available, so far as to be true.. time permitted. It is often difficult to. ferences; there are. weigh accurately the value of structural difcases in which the author has long remained. many. undecided what course to adopt, but decision, one way or another, has been necessary, and it only remains to be said that in such cases the l)enetit of any doubt has been given to established usage, in order not to disturb current nomenclature by unnecessar}^ innovations. The question of whether a given form should be considered as a species or a subspecies is very much a matter of material, botli from The greater the num])er a geographic and a numerical point of view. of closely related forms, hitherto regarded as specifically distinct, that are examined. — especially when. the fewer becomes the. As. number. representing intermediate localities of those which are really specilically. very different extremes are often connected by a series of intergrading forms, approaching one or the other of the extreme types exactly in proportion to their geographic position between them; and other forms much less different appear to be really distinct through absence of "intergrades."" In distinct.. in the case of genera,. di^termining questions of this class the author has exercised the fullest independence, without reference, so far as North American forms are. concerned, to the rulings of the committee^ of the American Ornitholnot from lacic of confidence in the committee's judgogists' Union; ment, })ut from a full knowledge of the unsatisfactory conditions as ^. to time. and material under which their conclusions were usually. reached.. Satisfactory decisions affecting the status of described but. dubious forms is a question both of material and investigation, and the author holds that no conclusion in such a matter should be accepted unless based upon an amount of material and careful investi gation equal to that bestowed by the original describer. Recognizmg the fact that in the present stage of zoological nomenclature trinomials are a ''necessary '?vil,'' the author has not hesitated to use them when such relationship was clearly indicated by the evidence. He has not, however, often done so on theoretical grounds, still. ])ecause, in the first place, the facts. when known may. or ma}^ not. and in the second because a binomial is preferable to The a trinomial when there is anj^ good excuse for its adoption. justify the step,. ^ As set forth in the Check List of North American Birds (editions and 1895) and various supplements to the same.. of 1886, 1889,.

TRKFAOK. (lucstions of this kind is in the case of every possible degree of difference occur which hisidar forms, anions islands, so that it not only different inhabitint^forms between rchited as to which should judgment individual of matter becomes hirgely a the disfurthermore but rank, subspecific which and be oiven specific or more be necessarily author, of any case the in nmst, tinction made such determiningfor ruhv' fast and ''hard no since less iii'bitrary,. irmiU\st dirticiilty in. <|ucsti()ns. As. (l(>cidiii.u-. seems possible.. ot)served l)efore, the. familiar one becomes with thesul)iect. more. of specimens representing continuous geographic fewer in number really distinct species become, the localities of sequence considered such resolve themselves, one by been long have what and. through the. medium. one, into a connected series of subspecific forms, each representing a definite geographic area of more or less marked peculiarities of topogi-iijihy.. climate, or other ])hysical features.. Such forms are. fixed, or. over territory of uniform physical character, the intergrades coming from the meeting ground of two such areas. Such a group of conspecilic forms may aptly be compared to the colors of the solar '"ti-ue,". spectrum, which form a graded scale from red, through orange, yellow, grcMMi. and bhie, to violet, with intermediate hues of greater or less numl)er, according to the nature of the case requiring their indication These colors of the spectrum, though imperceptibly runby name. ning into one another, are obviously distinct, and the necessity of recognizing them by. To. name has never been-questioned.. carry the comparison. further, a certain species. still. six sHbspecies or conspecilic forms,. designated ci/dVKi^ tis. and. l)y. Intermediates between these might be designated. riihro-aurantiaca (or cmrmitiaco-rnhr<(^ according to. faro-r/'r/'din^. include. the subspecific names ruhra,, avrantiaca^fiava^ rvrldis^. rlolacea.. intermc^diate. may. which for convenience may be. most resembles),. which form the. aMrantiac<>-flava (or flwvo-mu'aritkuui)^. virldl-cyanea, and cymiw-'Wiolacea.,-. i.. e.,. red-orange (or. orange-red), orange-yellow (or yellow-orange), yellow-green, green-. The necessit}^ for such a l)lue, and blue-violet of the color scale. nomenclature is just as great in zoology (and botany) as in chromatography; and to ignore this necessity is neither scientific nor sensi})le, Init on the other hand is nothing less than suppression or perversion The onl}' (juestion that can possibly exist iii the mind of those who have this matter to deal with is the degree of difference which shoidd l)e recognized in nomenclature, and in this respect there is excuse for more or less difference of opinion, accoi'ding to one's. of an oV)\ious truth.. ability to discern differenc(>s. and estimate the degree of. stancy, the extent and character of material studied, and the. time which has been devoted to. investigation.. theii-. con-. amount. of. No doubt many. of the forms which the author has recognized as subspecies in the present. work may appear. its. trivial to others, especially. those. who have not had.

PREFACE.. XI. advantage of the material upon which the}^ are based; but in all eases it has been the author's desire to express exactly the facts as they appear to him in the light of the evidence examined, without any regard whatever to preconceived ideas, either of his own or of others, and without consideration of the inconvenience which may result to those who are inclined to resent innovations, forgetful of the fact that knowledge can not be complete until all is known. This question of species and subspecies and their nice discrimination is not the trivial matter that some who claim a l)roader view of biological science affect to Ijelieve. It is the very foundation of more advanced scientific work; and without secure foundation no architect, however skillful, can rear a structure that will endure.. The nomenclatural. rules followed are those of the American OrniUnion, as presented in their "Code of Nomenclature." These have been strictly adhered to in all respects. The synonymies of this work have proven by far the most laborious part of its preparation, great pains having been taken to verify references whenever practicable, to include all which may be of use to those desiring an index to the literature of each species and to exclude those which would not serve some particular purpose. Special features are the mention of the type locality and location of the type specimen whenever it has been practicable to determine the same; the mention of all nomenclatural com})inations and variations, and reproduction of the exact form in which the name accompanying each citation was originally given. When the locality to which a citation refers can be ascertained it has been given, the purpose being twofold: Future workers in a more limited geographic field may thereby more easily consult the literature concerning it, and when it may hereafter become necessary to further subdivide a given species or subspecies the references may be assorted without the time-consuming labor of consulting the numerous books and papers cited. Regarding the matter of orthography, etc., in citations, the extreme exactness which has been attempted may seem both useless and pedantic. It is believed, however, that while the utmost accuracy of this kind can do no harm it may in respect to some aspects of the case certainly will do much good as a reaction from the gross carelessness which has hitherto prevailed. Anyone who has had occasion to verify citations must know that the amount of inaccuracy and misrepresentation in current synonymies, even the most authoritative and elaborate, is simply astounding. They al)Ound with names which do not even exist in the works cited, with those which do not correspond with the orio'inals in orthography, and others which have no meaning or use wtiatever, being evidently culled from indices without reference to what their status may be on the pages indicated. The correction of an author's orthographical errors is a pernicious practice, though umch in vogue; thologists'. —. —.

PREFACE.. ^,,,. •s(i(MK-(^ is not literature,'^. neither has. author should have done or meant to. any eoncern with what an do, but only with what he. it. actually did.. work Without the special arrangements for the preparation of this beginning made hy the late Dr. G. Brown Goode (as mentioned at the Dr. Charles D. Walof this preface) and contiiuied by his successors, accomplishment of the task would i-ott and :^Ir. Richard Kathluui, the These arrangements, it should be have been quite impracticable. though stated, are all that are possible under existing circumstances, by no means all that could be desired for its early completion. Notwithstanding the great extent of the collection of birds in the United States National Museum, which is much the largest and most nearly complete of any in America, and of North American birds luiquestionably the finest in existence, so. many groups. are inadequately. has been necessary to borrow specimens from other It is a great pleascollections for study in connection with this work. ure to the author that he is able to say that such aid has, almost withrcprescMited that. it. out excei)tion, been most willingly and promptly rendered by those having it in their power to do so. The unrivaled collection of Mexican l)irds,* as well as very numerous specimens from the United States (including Alaska) and the British Provinces, belonging to the United States Biological Survey (Department of Agriculture) has been kindly placed in the author's hands for study by the Director of the Survey,. Dr. C. Hart Merriam.. The. entire collection of each famil}^ belonging. American Museum of Natural History, New York City, has been lent for the same purpose, whenever requested,*^ by the authorities of that institution, through Dr. J. A. Allen, Curator of the Department of Vertebrate Zoology, these including many types of Mr. George N. Lawrence, so essential to any investigation of the birds of tropical America. The Academ}^ of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, through. to the. Mexican birds ornithologists are indebted to W. Nelson, whose caivfnl, thorough, and protracted field work has covered nearly every portion of that most interesting section of the continent. It illustrates, to a degree which no other collection from tliat country approaches, the remarkal)le variations, often within small areas, manifest in many of the birds, resulting from unusually varied topographic features and climatic conditions. Without a careful study of Mr. Nelson's collection, wdiich int-ludes the types of numerous new^ species and sul)species described by him, a fairly accurate knowledge of the geographic distril)ution and variations of Mexican birds would not ])e possible. The inestimable value of this collection in the preparation of the jtresent work lias l)een greatly enhanced l)y Mr. Nelson's kind assistance, both verlially and by means of a ma]), colored by him to show the different faunal areas, thereby exi)laining most clearly why marked variations often occur in birds of locali'. For. tlii.s. inagiiificent collection of. the intelligent and energetic labors of Mr. E.. not far separated as to distance but in reality very different in physical character. ''These include, to date, their entire representation of the families of Fringillidtc, Icteridte, and Corvida^.. ties.

PREFACE.. XIII. Mr. Witmcr Stone, Conservator of the Ornithological Section/ and the Field Columbian Museum, Chicago, through Mr. C. B. Coiy, Curator of the Department of Ornithology." have likewise responded most foi' the loan of specimens, as has also the Boston Society of Natural History, the last-mentioned establishment furnishing. generousl}^ to requests. a. number of Lafresnaye's types. The Costa Rica National Museum, through. its former Director, Senor Anastasio Alfaro, has materially aided in the preparation of this work b}^ the loan and gift of a large number of most interesting specimens. The author is likewise greath^ indebted for similar assistance to Senor Jose C. Zeledon, of San Jose, and Mr. George K. Cherrie, formerh' connected with the Costa Rica National jVIuseum, especially the former, who has not only donated many hundreds of specimens to the United States National Museum, but has in addition given much valuable information through correspondence. Besides the publii' institutions and their officers mentioned above the author is under obligations to man}^ individuals for similar aid. These are far too numerous to permit all lieing mentioned by name. Those who have rendered the greatest assistance are Mr. William Brewster, of Cambridge, and Mr. Outram Bangs, of Boston, Massachusetts; Mr. A. W. Anthony, of San Diego, Mr. R. C. McGregor, of Palo Alto, and Mr. .Fosepli (n-imieil, of }*asadena, California. Although the drudgery of measuring thousands of specimens and compiling practically all the references for the synonymy has fallen on the author, consideraljle assistance in these matters has been rendered by others. Most of the Fringillidte, Corvidte, and Mniotiltidaj were measured by Mr. J. H. Riley, Aid in the Division of Birds; the Icteridae, the Ccjerebida?, and part of the ^Nlniotiltidte were measured by Mr. Sidney S. Wilson. Dr. C. W. Richmond, Assistant Curator. of the Division of Birds, has supplied of uncited combinations, while Mr.. W.. many references, P. Hay has gone. especially. carefully. over the manuscript of the first volume and supplied, from the originals, such data as to pagination, type locality, etc., as had been omitted or marked as doubtful.. In conclusion, the author desires to say that while unavoidable limitations have prevented the realizatit)n of his ideal in the present. no pains nor labor have been spared to make ticable under the circumstances.. it. the. l)est. that. work,. was prac-. Robert Ridgway. United States National Museum, Washington^ D.. 6'.,. July. 1,. 1901.. ^The Academy's entire collection of Icteridse and Corvidse, with the exception of which can not be lent owing to conditions accompanying their gift to the Academy. ^ Large series of the West Indian genera Euetheia and Fyrrhulagra. certain specimens.



NOTE. The. work. necessity for lie^innin^ this. the lowest forms stating that. is. owing. to he rejj'retted,. Avith the hi^-hest instead of. and imiy be explained by. liriefly. to inadequate facilities for properly arranging the. larger birds in the National for study, and consequently. Museum it. collection these are not available. became necessary either. to begin Avith. the smaller birds, already systematically arranged, or else postpone. work indefinitely. The descriptions are. the. limited to essential characters, but extreme. brevity has been avoided in order to render identification. more certain.. In the case of subspecies, however, only those characters which are peculiar to each are mentioned, the fuller description of the. group of conspecific forms applying. to all of those. first in. a. which follow, except. as modified b}- the diagnosis pertaining to each of the latter.. Measurements are manner: (1). in millimeters,. Lengthy from tip of. measurement. bill. to. tij). and are made of. tail. really of little value,. and. clue to the general size of the bird.. It. is. is. in. the following. of the dried skin. This given merely as a sort of. varies greatly in the. species according to the '"make"'*' of the skin.^ and. is. same. usually materially. from the same measurement before skinning. WJng, measured with dividers, one point resting against the anterior side of the bend the other touching the extremity of the longest primar3\ (3) Tail, measured with dividers, one point of which is inserted between the shafts of the middle pair of rectrices at the base and pressed forward as far as they will go without splitting the integument, the other point touching the extremit}^ of the longest rectrix. (4) Oidmen, measured with dividers, either from the extreme base or exposed base that is, the base as seen without parting the frontal feathers the character of the measurement always being indicated as "culmen from base" and "exposed culmen.'' (5) Dejjth of hill at hase, measured with dividers from lower edge of mandibular rami to highest portion of the culmen. difi'erent (2). —. —. ^ Specimens of conspicuously extended or abbreviated excluded from measurement.. make. have, liowever, been. XV.

NOTE.. XVI IT/V/ZA. ((I). of hill. measured ucross the chiM hetweiMi the out-. at ha^e^. side of the giKithideii ut their base. (7). Tdi-xK.s^. f<i</(to tlie. iueasur(Hl. h)\ver end.. from the This. tibio-tarsal or heel joint. last jjoint is. often. more or. (»i. the outer. less indefinite. and sometimes very difHcult to locate, but in such cases may usually be ascertained by flexing- the toes. end of the tarsus to the base (8) Middle toe, measured from the lower of the claw, the length of the latter not being- included, unless so stated. the extremitj^ of the outer(9) Griuluation, of tall, measured from. most. rec^trix to that of. the middle or longest, the tail being closed.. measurements in measurements of a single specimen are of little value as In such a case the measpart of a description of a species or subspecies.. Owing. almost. all. to the considerable individual variation in birds,. urcMuents are (luite as likely to represent the maximum or minimum dimensions of the form as the average. Therefore, in connection with the present work, a series of specimens of each form has, whenever practicable, been carefully measured, and the minimum, maximum, and average of each separate measurement given with the descriptions. The average measurements, as given, do not always express actual. forms measured are too often unequal and inadequate, and in the second, determination of sex by collectors is not always to l)e relied on, measurements of one sex sometimes almost. difference or agreement, as the case ma}^ be, between allied. becausi% in the. fii-st. certaiidy liguring. place, the series. among. those of the other.. Besides, a certain allow-. ance must be made for errors of measurement, it being a well known fact that the same person can rarely measure the same specimen twice. and. ol)tain exactly the. same. results.. It. may be. stated,. however, that. great care has been taken to have the measurements given represent the facts as nearly as possible, ])y selecting as nearly equal a series of each. form as the available material would allow, and b}^ eliminating immature specimens and those with abraded primaries and rectrices, as well as those whose sex had not been determined by the collector or. allied. is. otherwise not obvious.. In describing the wing-formula or relative lengths of the primary remiges, these are counted from the innermost one outward, not conversely, as has been the general practice. Hence, in ''ten-primaried" birds the outermost primary is designated as the tenth, and in "uine-. The advantage of this innovation, which no doubt will at first cause inconvenience, is that in the case of "nine-primaried" birds the outermost obvious primary (the ninth) receives its correct numerical designation, whereas according to the old method of numeration it was designated as the first while being in. primaried'' birds as the ninth.. reality the second.* ^See Forbes, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1879, Dictionary of Birds, pp. 118, 741, 780.. p.. 256, note 2;. Gadow,. in. Newton's.

NOTE.. XVII. work are on the same plan North American Birds ;^ that. analytical keys of the present. The. those in the author's. Manual. the diagnostic characters of. of. as is,. subdivisions are contrasted in dichoto-. all. Manj^ modifications of this plan and others essentially different have been experimented with or tested, but none have been found to possess equal simplicitj^ of construction The keys of the present work differ from or facility of practical use. those of the Manual in this respect, however; the latter are a combination of ""key" and diagnosis, while the former consist entirely of Although a key based only on the exclusively diagnostic characters. the plan of these keys is so simple that directions for their use seem hardly necessary, it may be as well to explain the method of their use. The dichotomous characters are arranged alphabetically, thus, "«" is. mous. series of antithetical phrases.. the antithesis of "^acr^ "?/' thatof. "^. Ji^'^etc.. ;. therefore. if. the characters. "«" do. not apply to the specimen in hand then mentioned following It will, of course, be they must be sought for under after "««". found that either the characters following ''«" or those following 'V<a" do apply, unless the specimen happens to be a new species or the key When its posito the wrong genus (or other group) is being used. tion as to 'V/'' or 'V/c?" has ])oen fixed, the next step is to find whether "«" or 'Vm," as its position may it belongs to "//' or "Ji" under have been determined; then whether in 'V'" or ''re,'' and so on, or until the species or subspecies. "run. is. down.'"'. of colors used are those of the author's Nomenclature of. The names Colors.^. A. —. IllustraManual of North American Birds. By Robert Ridgway. Philadelphia: J. B. by 464 outline drawings of the generic characters. 1887. Lippincott Company. Royal 8 vo, pp. [i]-xi, 1-631, pis. i-cxxiii. (Second edition, revised, with new prefai-e and appendix, published 1896.) ^ A Nomenclature of Colors for Naturalists, and Compendium of Useful By Robert Ridgway, Curator Department of Knowledge for Ornithologists. With ten colored plates and seven plates Birds, United States National Museum. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. 1886. of outline illustrations. *. |. I. |. |. ted. |. —. |. |. |. |. |. |. |. |. |. |. I. |. I. |. |. ]. |. |. |. |. 17024—01. |. II. |. |.



TABLE OF CONTENTS. Ornithology Class Aves. Key Key. 1. 2. to the Subclasses of. Aves. 3. to the. Orders of the Subclass Ornithur&e Order Passeriformes Key to the Suborders of Passeriformes Key to the Superfamilies of the Suborder Eleutherodactyli SUPERFAMILY OsCINES Key to the Families of Osciues Family Fringillid.e. 24. Key. 28. 8 12 14. 16 17. 18. Genera of Fringillid;',Genus 1. Hesperiphona Bonaparte Key to the Species and Subspecies of Hesperiphona 1. Hesperiphona vespertina vespertina (Cooper) 2. Hesperiphona vesjiertina montana Ridgway 3. Hesperiphona vespertina mexicana Chapman 4. Hesperiphona abeillii (Lesson ) Genus 2. Loxia Linnpeus Key to the Species and Subspecies of Loxia 5. Loxia curvirostra minor (Brehm 6. Loxia curvirostra bendirei Ridgway 7. Loxia curvirostra stricklandi Ridgway 8. Loxia leucoptera Gmelin Genus 3. Py rrhula Brisson to the. 37 38. 39 41 43. 44 46 46. 47. ). 9.. 53 56 57. Yieillot. to the Species. 58. and Subspecies. of Pinicola. 59. 10.. Pinicola enucleator canadensis (Cabanis). 60. 11.. Pinicola enucleator alascensis. 63. 12.. Ridgway Pinicola enucleator flammula ( Homeyer). 13.. Pinicola enucleator calif ornica Price. 14.. Pinicola enucleator. Genus. Key. 52. Pyrrhula cassini Baird. Genus 4. Pinicola. Key. 50. 5.. 64 65. montana Ridgway. 66. Leucosticte Swainson. to the Species. and Subspecies. 67. 68. of Leucosticte. 15.. Leucosticte tephrocotis tephrocotis Swainson. 68. 16.. Leucosticte tephrocotis littoralis (Baird). 71. 17.. Leucosticte tephrocotis griseonucha (Brandt). 72. 18.. Leucosticte atrata. Ridgway. 75. 19.. Leucosticte australis Allen. Genus. 6.. 77. Acanthis Bechstein. 78. XIX.

. .. CONTENTS.. XX. Fage.. Key. and Sa)>speeies of Acantliis A^anthi^^ horneinannii hornenmnnii Holboll. 80. to the Species. (. 20.. 80. .'. ). 82. 23.. Acanthis horneinannii exihpes (Cones) Acanthis linaria linaria (Linnteus) Acanthis linaria holboeHii (Brehm). 24.. Acanthis linaria rostrata (Coues). 91. Acanthis ])rewsterii Ridgway. 92. 21. 22.. 25.. Genus. Key. Spinus. 8.. 94. 28.. 29. 30.. and Subspecies. of Spinus. 97 '00. 100. 102. Spinus notatus forreri (Salvin and (lodnmn) Spinus cucuUatus (Swainson) Spinus xanthogaster (DuBus). 31. 32.. 33.. Genus. 95 96. Koch. Spinus pinns pinus (Wilson) Spinus pinus niacropterns (DuBus) Spinus atriceps (Salvin) Spinus notatus notatus (DuBus). 27.. Genus. -. 103. -. 104 105. -. Bryant. 106. Loxiniitris doniinicensis (Bryant). 107. Loxiinitris. 9.. 34.. 10.. 107. Astragalinus Cal)anis. to the Species. and Subspecies. 35.. Astragalinns. of Astragalinns. 108. 109. tristis tristis (Liiuifeus). Mearns). Ill. 36.. Astragalinns. tristis. pallidus. 37.. Astragalinns. tristis. salicamans (Grinnell ). 38.. Astragaliinis psaltria psaltria (Say). 39.. Astragalinns psaltria arizona) (Coues). 40.. Astragalinns psaltria mexicanus (Swainson. 41. Astragalinns psaltria croceus (.Tony). 42.. Astragalinns psaltria jonyi. 43.. Astragalinns psaltria colmnljianus (Lafresnaye). 1. 4. Astragalinns lawrencii (Cassin). 121. 4.. Genus. 1 1. Key. (. 112 114. .'.. 115. 1. Ridgway. Carpodacus Kaup. to the Species. 117. ). .. and Subspecies. of. Carpodacus. 18. 120 20. 1. 23. 1. 24. Baird. 126 128. 52.. purpureus purpereus (Gmelin) purpureus californicus (Baird) mexicanus mexicanus Mi'iller) mexicanus roseipectus (Sharpe) mexicanus rhodocolpus (Cabanis) ( 'arpodacus mexicanus sonoriensis Ridgway Carj)odacus mexicanus ruberrimus Ridgway. 53.. Carpoda<-us mexicanus frontalis (Say). 137. 54.. Carpodacus mexicanus dementis (Mearns) Carpodacus mcgregori Anthony Carpodacus ampins Ridgway. 140. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50.. 51. 55. 5H.. Genus. Key. .. Carpodacus Carpodacus Carpodacus Carpodacus Carpodacus Carpodacus. 45.. 1. 2.. to the. cassinii. (. Passer Brisson. Passer domesticus. 58.. Passer montanus (Linnfeus) 1. 3.. 59.. (. of Passer. Linnteus). Passerina Vieillot. to the Species. 130 131. 133. 134 135 1. 36. 141. 142. 143. American (introduced) Species. 57.. Genus. Key. 93. Carduelis carduelis (Linmeus). to the Species. Key. 89. Carduelis Brisson. 7.. 26.. Genus. 85. and Subspecies. 143 143 145. 146 of Passerina. Passerina nivalis nivalis (Linna;us). 147. 148.

.... CONTENTS.. XXI Page.. Ridgway Passerina ti yperborea Ridgway. Passerina nivalis townsendi. 60.. 61. Genus. Key. 14.. 154. and Subspecies. Calcarius lapponicus lapponicus. 63.. Calcarius lapponicus alascensis. 64.. Calcarius pictus. 65.. Calcarius ornatus. (. Linnams). 155. Ridgway. 158. Swainson) (. 160. To wnsend. Rhy nchophanes. 162. ). Baird. 164. Rhynchophanes mccownii Lawrence. 66.. Genus. (. 155. of C'alcarius. 62.. 15.. 153. Calarius Bechstein. to the Species. Genus. 152. (. 165. ). Calamospiza Bonaparte 67. Calamospiza melanocorys Stejneger Genus 1 7. Spiza Bonaparte. 167. Key. 171. 16.. 168. 170. to the Species of Spiza 68.. Spiza aniericana (Gmelin). 69.. Spiza townsendii. Genus. 171. (Audubon. 174. ). Chondestes Swainson Key to the Species and Subspecies of Chondestes 70. Chondestes grammacus gramuiacus (Say) 71 Chondestes grammacus strigatus (Swainson ) ienus 19. Pooecetes Baird 1. 1. S.. 176 178 181. (. Key. to the Species. Subspecies of Pooecetes. 182. 73.. 74.. Po(Pcetes gramineus affinis. 186. Genus. 20.. to the Species. and Subspecies. 187 of Passerculus. 188. 75.. Passerculus princeps. Maynard. 189. 76.. Passerculus sandwichensis sandwichensis (Gmelin ). 190. 77.. Passerculus sandwichensis savanna (Wilson). 192. 78.. Passerculus sandwichensis alaudinus (Bonaparte). 194. 79.. Passerculus sandwichensis bryanti. 80.. Passercuhis beMingi. 81. Passerculus rostratus i-ostratus. Ridgway. 197. Ridgway. 198 (. 199. Cassin ). sanctorum (Coues). 200. 83.. Passerculus rostratus guttatus (Lawrence). 201. 84.. Passerculus rostratus halophilus (McGregor). 202. Genus. 21.. Genus. 22.. 202. Centronyx Baird Audul)on Coturniculus Bonaparte. C'entronyx bairdii. 85.. Key. 184. INIiller. Passerculus Bonaparte. 82. Passerculus rostratus. '. 181. Pooecetes gramineus graminens (Gmelin ) Pooecetes gramineus confinis ( Baird ). 72.. Key. an<.l. 75. 176. (. 203. ). 205. and Subspecies of Coturniculus imelin 86. Coturniculus savannarum savannarum 87. Coturniculus savannarum passerimis (Wilson) 88. Coturniculus savannarum obscurus (Nelson) 89. Coturniculus savannarum bimaculatus (Swainson Genus 23. Ammodramus Swainson Key to the Species and Subspecies of Ammodramus. 205. to the Si>ecies. (^(. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95.. Ammodramus maritimus maritimus Wilson Ammodramus maritimus mcgillivraii (Audubon) Ammodramus maritimus peninsulfe Allen Ammodramus maritimus fisheri Chapman Ammodramus maritimus sennetti Allen Ammodramus nigrescens Ridgway (. 206. ). ). 207 209 ). 209 211. 212 214. 216 216 217. 218 219.

CONTENTS.. XXII. Page. 96. Aniinodranms candaciitus candacutuf? (Gmeliii. AinnKKlrainus faudacntus iielsoni Allen Aminodramns caudacutus subvirgatus Dwight. 97. 98.. (Audubon). 220 221. 223 224. 100.. Ammodramus Ammodramus. henslowii henslowii (Audubon). 226. 101.. Ammodramu.si heui^lowii occidentalis Brewster. 228. 99.. Genus. 24.. Gemis. Key. leconteii. 229. Plagiospiza liidgway. riagiospiza supen'iliosa (Swainson). 102.. 2n.. Ainiophila Swainson. to the Species. and Subspecies. of Ainiophila. 229. 230 233. 103.. Ainiophila (luinquestriata (Sclater). 236. 104.. Hartlaub) Aimophila humeralis Cabanis Aimophila ruticauda ruficauda (Bonaparte). 236. Ainiophila mystacalis. 105.. 106. 107. 108.. 109. 1. 10.. 111. 112.. 113. 114. ]. 15.. (. Aimophila ruticauda lawrencii (Salvin and Godnian) Aimophila acuminata Salvin and Godman Aimopliila sumichrasti Lawrence Aimophila carpalis ( Cones) Aimophila notosticta (Sclater and Salvin) Aimoi)hila rufescens rufescens Swainson Aimophila rufescens pallida Nelson and Palmer Aimophila rufescens sinaloa Ridgway Aimophila mcleodii Brewster. 237. 238 239 240 240 241. 242 243. 245 245 246. 116. Aimopliila ruficeps ruficeps (Cassin). 246. Aimophila ruficeps sororia Ridgway. 248. 117.. 118. Aimopliila ruficeps scottii (Sennett) 119. 120.. 121. 122.. 123. 124.. 125.. Aimophila Aimophila Aimophila Aimophila Aimophila Aimophila Aimophila. 127.. Aimophila. 250. ruficeps fusca (Nelson ). 250. ruficeps eremoeca. (Brown). 251. ruficeps boucardi. (. Sclater). 252 253. cassinii. (Woodhouse). aestivalis festivalis (Lichtenstein) jestivalis. bachmanii (Audubon ). botterii sartorii. Ridgway. 128. Ainiophila botterii petenica (Salvin). Genus. 26.. Am|)hispiza ("ones. to the Species. and Subspecies. of. Amphispiza. 130. Aiiiphisi)iza l)ilineata deserticola. Ridgway. Amphispiza bilineata grisea Nelson 132. Amphispiza belli belli (Cassin) 133. Amphispiza belli cinerea Townsend 134. Amphispiza belli nevadensis Ridgway Genus 27. Junco Wagler Key to the Species and Sul >si)ecies of Junco 135. Junco aikeni Ridgway 136. Junco hyeiiialis liyemalis (Linnfous) 137. Junco hyemalis carolinensis Brewster 131.. 139. 140.. 141.. 142.. I. Junco Junco Junco Junco. 254 256 257. 259 260 261. 129. Amjiliispiza bilineata bilineata (Cassin). 138. Junc(. 248. ruliceps australis (Nelson). 126. Ainiophila botterii botterii (Sclater). Key. ). oreganus oreganus (Townsend) oreganus shufeldti (Coale) oreganus thurberi (Anthony) oreganus pinosus (Loomis) montanu.s Ridgway. 262 263 265 266. 267 269 270 271. 272 277. 278. 282 283 285 287 288. 289.

CONTENTS.. XXIII Page.. 143. 144. 145.. 146.. 147. 148. 149.. 150.. 151. 152. 153.. Genus. Key. Junco Junco Junco Junco Junco Junco Junco Junco Junco Junco Junco. 28.. mearnsi Ridgway townsendi Anthony insularis. 291. 293. Ridgway. 293. bairdi Belding. 294. Woodhouse) Henry. 295. phseonotus phgeonotus Wagler pheeonotus palliatus Ridgway. 299. fulvescens Nelson. 302. alticola Salvin. 303. vulcani (Boucard)^.. 304. caniceps dorsalis. (. 297 301. Spizella Bonaparte. to the Species. 305. and Subspecies. 305. of Spizella. monticola monticola (Gmelin) 155. Spizella monticola ochracea Brewster 156. Spizella socialis (Wilson) 157. Spizella socialis mexicana Nelson. 307. 154. Spizella. 158. Spizella socialis 159. Spizella socialis. 309 311. 313. 314. pinetorum (Salvin) arizonee Coues. 160. Spizella pusilla pusilla. 315. 318. (Wilson). arenacea Chadbourne wortheni Ridgway. 161. Spizella pusilla. 320. 162. Spizella. 321. 322. 163. Spizella atrogularis (Cabanis) 164. Spizella pallida. 324. (Swainson). 327. breweri Cassin Zonotrichia Swainson. 165. Spizella. Genus. Key. 29.. to the Species. and Subspecies. 329. 330. of Zonotrichia. querula (Nuttall). 331. 167. Zonotrichia coronata (Pallas). 333. 166. Zonotrichia. 168. Zonotrichia. 336. 169. Zonotrichia. 339. leueophrys leucophrys (Forster) leucophrys gambeli ( Nuttall) 170. Zonotrichia leucophrys nuttalli Ridgway 171. Zonotrichia albicollis (Gmelin) Genus 30. Brachyspiza Ridgway Key to the Subspecies of Brachyspiza 172. Brachyspiza capensis peruviana (Lesson) 173. Brachyspiza capensis insularis Ridgway Genus 31. Melospiza Baird Key to the Species and Subspecies of Melospiza 174. Melospiza cinerea melodia (Wilson) 175. Melospiza cinerea montana (Henshaw 176. Melospiza cinerea aierrilli Brewster) 177. Melospiza cinerea f allax (Baird ) 178. Melospiza cinerea rivularis (Bryant) 179. Melospiza cinerea heermanni (Baird ) 180. Melospiza cinerea mexicana Ridgway 181. Melospiza cinerea adusta (Nelson) 182. Melospiza cinerea goldmani (Nelson) ). (. 1. 83.. 184. 185.. Ridgway Melospiza cinerea elemental (Townsend Melospiza cinerea graminea (Townsend ) ]Melospiza cinerea cooperi. ). Melospiza cinerea samuelis Baird) Melospiza cinerea pusillula Ridgway 188. Melospiza cinerea cleonensis ( McGregor) 186. 187.. (. 342 343. 346 347 347 349. 349 352 354 358 361. 362 363 364 365. 366 366 367. 368 369 369 370 371.

2. .. CONTENTS.. XXIV. Page.. 372. 189. Melospiza c-inerea morphna ( Oberholser ) 190. Mulospiza cinerea ruiina ( Brandt) 191 ISIelospiza cinerea caurina Ridgway. 3(3. 375 375. Ridgway. 192.. ]Melospiza cinerea kenaiensis. 193.. Melospiza cinerea insignis (Baird). 376. 194. Melo.spiza cinerea cinerea (Gnielin). 377. Melospiza lincolnii (Audubon) 196. Melospiza georgiana (Latham). 379 382. 195.. Genus. Key. 384. Passerella Swainson. 32.. 385. and Subspecies of Passerella Pa.iserella iliaca iliaca (Merrem). to the Species 197.. 386 389. 198. Passerella iliaca unalaschensis (Gnielin) .*. Passerella iliaca insularis. 200.. Passerella iliaca. 201. Passerella iliaca 202. Passerella iliaca. 391. Ridgway annectens Ridgway townsendi (Audubon f uliginosa Ridgway. 199.. 392 392. ). 394 395. 203. Passerella iliaca schistacea (Baird ) 204. Passerella iliaca 205.. Genus. niegarhyncha. Key. Baird. 397. ). Anthony. Passerella iliaca stephensi. 398. Oreospiza Ridgway. 33.. 206. Oreosi>iza chlorura. Genus. (. 399 400. -. (Townsend). 402 403. Pipilo Vieillot. 34.. to the Species. and Subspecies. of Pipilo. 207. Pipilo torquatus torquatus. Du Bus. 406. and Godman. 208. Pipilo torquatus alticola (Salvin. and Godman) macronyx macrony x Swainson macronyx virescens (Hartlaub) ma{;ulatus maculatus Swainson. 408. ). 408. 209. Pipilo nigrescens (Salvin 210.. Pipilo. 211.. Pipilo. 212. Pipilo. 213. Pipilo 214. Pipilo. 215. Pipilo 216. Pipilo 21 7. Pipilo 218. Pipilo 219.. Pipilo. 220.. Pipilo. 221.. IMpilo. 222.. Pipilo. 223.. Pipilo. 409 410 410. ^. maculatus arcticus (Swainson maculatus magnirostris Brewster maculatus megalonyx ( Baird ) maculatus clementse (Grinnell) maculatus atratus Ridgway maculatus oregonus (Bell consobrinus Ridgway carmani Baird erythrophthalmus erythrophthalmus (Linnaeus) erythroplithalmus alleni Cones aberti Baird. 41. ). 414 415. 418 419 420. ). 422 422 423. 426 427. 224. Pipilo rutilus (Lichtenstein) 225. Pipilo fuscus fuscns 226.. 428. Swainson. Pipilo fuscus potosinus. 430. Ridgway. 431. 227. Pipilo fuscus. intermedins Nelson 228. Pipilo fuscus mesoleucus (Baird) ^. 230. Pipilo cri.ssalis crissalis. 232. Pipilo crissalis. Genus. (. Vigors). McGregor) senicula (Anthony) (. Melozone Reiclienbach Key to the Species and Subspecies of Melozone 233. Melozone kieneri (Bonaparte) 234. Melozone rubricatum rubricatum Cabanis 235. Melozone rubricatum xantusii ( Lawrence ) 35.. 432 ". 229. Pipilo albigula Baird. 231. Pipilo crissalis carol*. 432 433 434 435. 436 437. 438 439 440 441.

.. XXV. CONTENTS.. 236.. Melozone cabanisi (Sclater aud Salvin) Melozone biarcuatuin (Prevost) 238. Melozone leucotis Cabanis 239. Melozone occipitalis Cabanis Genus 36. Arremonops Ridgway Key to the Species and Subspecies of Arremonops 240. Arremonops rufivirgatus rufivirgatus (Lawrence) 241. Arremonops rufivirgatus crassirostris Ridgway 242. Arremonops superciliosus superciliosus (Salvin 243. Arremonops superciliosus sumichrasti (Sharpe 244. Arremonops superciliosus sinaloiK Nelson 245. Arremonops verticalis Ridgway 246. Arremonops chloronotus (Salvin) 247. Arremonops conirostris conirostris (Bonaparte) 248. Arremonops conirostris richmondi Ridgway. 441. 237.. 443. Arremon Vieillot 249. Arremon aurantiirostris Lafresnaye Genus 38. Lysurus Ridgway. 454. Key. 458. Genus. 250.. Key. 445 445 446. 474 448. ). 449. ). 450 450 451. 452. 453 453. 37.. to the Species of. Genus. 444. Lysurus. 39.. 457. Lysurus. crassirostris. (. 158. Cassin). Atlapetes Wagler. to the Species 251.. 455. 459. and Subspecies. 460. of Atlapetes. Atlapetes pileatus pileatus Wagler. 252. Atlapetes pileatus dilutus. 460. Ridgway. 461. 461. 253.. Atlapetes gutturalis (Lafresnaye). 254.. Atlapetes albinucha (D'Orbigny and Lafresnaye). 463. Buarremon Bonaparte Key to the Species of Buarremon 255. Buarremon briunneinuchu.s ( Lafresnaye) 256. Buarremon virenticeps Bonaparte 257. Buarremon assimilis B< lissoneau) Genus 41. Psellioijhorus Ridgway 258. Pselliophorus tibialis Lawrence Genus 42. Pezopetes Cabanis Genus. 464. 40.. 465 465 467. 468. (. (. 259. Pezopetes capitalis. Genus. 43.. Platyspiza. Cabanis. Key. 471. 472. ^. 473 (. (touUI. 474. ). Camarhynchus Gould Camarhynchus 261 Camarhynchus psittaculus Gould 262. Camarhynchus habeli Sclater and- Salvin 263. Camarhynchus affinis Ridgway 264. Camarhynchus compressirostris Ridgway 265. Camarhynchus incertus Ridgwa}' 266. Camarhynchus pauper Ridgway 267. Camarhynchus prosthemelas Sclater and Salvin 268. Camarhynchus salvini Ridgway 269. Camarhynchus pallid us (Sclater and Salvin) Genus 45. Geospiza Gould. Genus. 470. Ridgway. 260. Platyspiza crassirostris. Key. 469. ). 476. 44.. 476. to the Species of. to the Species of Geospiza. Geospiza 271. Geospiza 272. Geospiza 273. Geospiza 270.. magnirostris Gould. strenua Gould pachyrhyncha Ridgway conirostris Ridgway. - -. -. 477 480 481 481. 482 483 484 486 487 489 493. 495 496 498 498.

.. CONTENTS.. XXVI. Page.. 274. Ge<)si>i/.a i)ropinqua. Ridgway. 499. and Hartert. 275. Geo.'piza rljirwini Rothschild. 500 500. (Joosi)iza haiiri Kiilgwaj'. 27(».. Jonld. 501. Geospiza albi'rnarlei Ridgway 279. Geospiza simillima Rothschild and Hartert. 502. 277. Geosj)iza ihibia. (. 278.. 502. Geospiza fortis Gould Geospiza fratercula Ridgway Geospiza fuliginosa Gould Geospiza minor ( Rothschild and Hartert) Geospiza acutirostris Ridgway Geosjnza dentirostris Gould Geospiza hartert! Ridgway. 280. 281. 282.. 283. 284. 285. 286.. 502. 504 504. 506 506 507. 507. Geospiza ilifficilis Sharpe 288. Geospiza debilirostris Ridgway 287.. Geospiza Geospiza 291. Geospiza 292. Geospiza 289.. 290.. 507. 508. scandens (Gould) ( Rothschild and Hartert) intermedia Ridgway. 509. septentrionalis. fatigata. 510 511. Ridgway. 511. Geospiza abingdoni (Sclater and Salvin) 294. Geospiza brevirostris Rid way Genus 46. Cocornis Townsend 293.. 513. 514 515. Townsend Genus 47. Acanthidops Ridgway 296. Acanthidops bairdi Ridgway Genus 48. Haplospiza Cabanis 295. Cocornis agassizi. 297. Haplosjiiza uniformis Sclater. Genus. Key. 49.. Sicalis. 516 517 519 520. and Salvin. 521. Boie. 521. to the Species of Sicalis. 299. Sicalis. 522. Sharpe. 523. chrysops Sclater. 523. 298. Sicalis Jamaica'. Genus 50. Volatinia Reichenbach Key to the Subspecies of Volatinia. 525. 526. 300. Volatinia jacarini splendens. (. \'ieillot). 526 509. Cienus 51. Euetheia Reichenbach Key to the Species and Subspecies of Euetheia. Euetheia oli vacea olivacea ( Linnaeus 302. Euetheia olivacea coryi Ridgway. 53O. 301. 303. pAietheia olivacea bryanti. 530. ). 532. Ridgway. 533. Euetheia olivacea intermedia Ridgway 305. Euetheia olivacea pusilla ( S wai ns'on ) 306. Euetheia canora (Gmelin ) 307. Euetheia bicolor l)icolor ( Linmens) .• 308. Euetheia bic^olor omissa Jardine) 309. Euetheia bicolor marchii (Baird ) 304.. 533. 534 53(3. 537 538. (. 310. 311.. Genus. Euetheia bicolor sharpei Euetheia grandior Cory. 52.. MelanosjjizH. Hartert ). 543 543. Ridgway. 312. Melanosi)iza ridiardsoni <. (. 54I. 544. (Cory). 541^. ienus 53. Loxipasser Bryant. 54c. 313. Loxii)ass('r aiioxanthus (Go.sse). Genus. Key. 54.. Pyrrlndagni. to thv Si.ecies. 54g. Px )nai)arte. and Sul)spe(nes. Pyrrhulagra 314. Pyrrhulagra portoricensis (Daudin ). 547 '548. of. .....!. 550.

. .. XXVII. CONTENTS.. Page.. 550. Pyrrhulagra grandis (Lawrence). 315.. 316. Pj^rrhulagra violacea violacea (Linnjeus). 551. Pyrrhulagra violacea ruficoUis ( Gmelin) 318. Pyrrhulagra violacea affinis (Baird) 319. Pyrrhulagra noctis noctis (Linnaeus) 320. Pyrrhulagra noctis sclateri ( Allen) 321 Pyrrhulagra noctis dominicana Ridgway 322. Pyrrhulagra noctis crissalis Ridgw ay 323. Pyrrhulagra noctis ridgwayi Cory 324. Pyrrhulagra noctis coryi Ridgway 325. Pyrrhulagra noctis grenadensis Cory 326. Pyrrhulagra barbadensis Cory * Genus 55. Melopyrrha Bonaparte. 552. 317.. Key. to the Specie.« of 327. 328.. 553 554 555. 556 557. 558 559. 560 561. 501. Melopyrrha. 562. :. 562. Melopyrrha nigra (Linnaeus) Melopyrrha taylori Hartert. 563 5^3. Sporophila Cabanis Key to the Species and Subspecies of Sporophila 329. Sporophila grisea schistacea ( Lawrence ) 330. Sporophila niinuta minuta Linna?us). Genus. 56.. 564. 566 567. (. 331. Sporophila. minuta parva (Lawrence). 568. -. 569. Sporophila gutturalis ( Lichtenstein ) 333. Sporophila corvina (Sclater) 334. Sporophila aurita ( Bonaparte) 335. Sporophila morelleti (Bonaparte) 336. Sporophila torqueola ( Bonaparte) 332.. 571. 573 575. -. 577. Sporophila all)itorquis (Sharpe) Genus 57. Amaurospiza Cabanis 338. Amaurospiza concolor Cabanis. 578. Cyanospiza Baird Key to the Species of Cyanospiza 339. Cyanospiza cyanea (Linnieus) 340. Cyanospiza amoena (Say) 341 Cyanospiza ciris (Linnaeus) 342. Cyanospiza leclancheri (Lafresnaye) 343. Cyanospiza rosita^ Lawrence 344. Cyanospiza versicolor ( Bonaparte) Genus 59. Cyanocompsa Cabanis. 580. 337.. Genus. 579. 579. 58.. 581. 582 584 589 590 591 - -. Key to the Species and Subspecies of Cyanocompsa 345. Cyanocompsa concreta concreta (DuBus 346. Cyanocompsa concreta cyanesceus Ridgway 347. Cyanocompsa cyanoides (Lafresnaye) 348. Cyanocompsa parellina parellina ( Bonaparte) 349. Cyanocompsa parellina indigotica Ridgway 350. Cyanocompsa parellina sumichrasti Ridgway Genus 60. Oryzoborus Cabanis Key to the Species of Oryzoborus 351. Oryzoborus nuttingi Ridgway. 596 597. -. 599 601. 602 602 -. ^^^. 604 604 605. 352.. ). 594 595. ). Oryzoborus funereus Sclater Genus 61. Guiraca Swainson Key to the Species and Subspecies of Guiraca 353. Guiraca ca^rulea cferulea (Linnaeus) 354. Guiraca cierulea lazula (Lesson 355. Guiraca ca^rulea chiapensis (Nelson). 586. -. 606 -. 607 60/. 610 612.

CONTENTS.. XXVIII. Page. (. ieuuf^ 62.. Key. Ziiiiit'lixlia. to the Species. (if. Coues Zamelodia. "13. -. ^'l"!. 'l-l. Zanielodia liidoviciaiia (Linnteus). 35t).. 617. 357. Zanielodia nielanoeephala (Swainson). Genus. Key. 63.. I'heuet icii8. 621. Reichenbach. 621. to the Species of Pheucticus. 621. chrysopephis ( Vigors) 359. Pheucticus aurantiacus Salvin and Godnian 360. Pheucticus tibialis Baird Genus 64. Pyrrhnloxia Bonaparte Key to the Sulispecies of Pyrrhnloxia 358. Pheucticus. 623 623 624 625. 625. Bonaparte 362. Pyrrhnloxia sinuata peninsuhe Ridtrway 363. Pyrrhnloxia sinuata texana Ridgway 361. Pyrrluiloxia sinuata sinuata. (. 627. 628 629. ienus 65. Cardinalis Bonaj^arte. Kej' to the Species and Subspecies of C'ardinalis. 633 635. 364. Cardinalis cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus) 365. Cardinalis cardinalis canicaudus. Chapman. 639. Ridgway coccincus Ridgway. 366. Cardinalis cardinalis fioridanus. 641. 367. Cardinalis tiardinalis. 642. 368. Cardinalis cardinalis littoralis. Nelson. 643. Ridgway saturatus Ridgway superbus Ridgway. 369. Cardinalis cardinalis yucatanicus. 644. 370. Cardinalis cardinalis. 645. 371. Cardinalis cardinalis. 645. 372. Cardinalis cardinalis igneus (Baird). 647. Nelson 374. Cardinalis cardinalis sinaloensis Nelson 375. Cardinalis cardinalis mariee Nelson 376. Cardinalis carneus Lesson Genus 66. Pitylns Cuvier. 648. 373. Cardinalis cardinalis affinis. 648. 649 650 651. 377. Pitylus grossus (Linnaius). 652. Genus 67. Caryothraustes Reichenbach Key to the Subspei;ies of Caryothraustes. 654. 378. Caryi )thraustes polioga-ster poliogaster 379. Caryothraustes poliogaster scapnlaris. Genus. 655 (. Du. Bus). Ridgway. Rhodothraupis Ridgway 380. Rhodothraupis celivno (Lichtenstein). 656. 68.. 657 -. tJenus 69. Saltator Vieillot. Key. 655. to the Species. 657. 659. and Subspecies. 381. Saltator atriceps atriceps. of Saltator. 660. Lesson. Bangs Saltator niagnoides magnoides Lafresnaye Saltator niagnoides medianus Ridgway Saltator niagnoides intermedius (Lawrence. 661. 382. Saltatc )r atriceps lacertosus. 663. 383.. 663. 384. 385.. 386. Saltator grandis 387. Saltator. (. Lichtenstein ). plumbiceps Lawrence. 388. Saltator albicollis isthmicus (Sclater). 389. Saltator guadelupensis (Lafresnaye). Addenda Index List of figures illustrating generic details. Errata. 664 ). 665 666. 668 669 671 gyo ojo. xxix ^^^^.

. ... LIST OF FIGURES ILLUSTRATING GENERIC DETAILS. Figure.. 2.. Hesperiphona Bonaparte Loxia Linnaeus. 1.. I.. I.. 3.. Pyrrhula Brisson. 11.. 1. 4.. Pinicola Vieillot. I.. 3. 5.. Leucosticte Swainsoii. III.. 1. 6.. Acanthis Bechsteiii. II.. 6. 7.. Carduelis Brisson. II.. 2. 8.. Spinus Koch. II.. i. 0.. Loximitris Bryant. II.. 5. 10.. Astragalinus Cabanis. II.. 3. 11.. Carpodacus Kaup. IV.. 3,5. 12.. Passer Brisson. 13.. Passerina Vieillot. III.. 14.. Calcarius Bechsteiii. III.. 3. 15.. Rhynchophanes Baird.... III.. 4. 16.. Calamospiza Bonaparte... IV.. 4. 17.. Spiza Bonaparte. IV.. 6. 18.. Chondestes .Swainson. IV.. 1. 19.. Pooecetes Baird. IV.. 2. II.. 20.. Passereulus Bonaparte.. 21.. Centrony X Baird. 22.. Coturniculus Bonaparte. 23.. Ammodramus. 24.. Plagiospiza. Ridgway. VI.. 25.. Aimophila Swainsoii Amphispiza Coues Junco Wagler. V.. 5,6. VI.. 2,4. 26.. 27.. 28. Spizella. .. .. Swaiiison. Bonaparte. V.. 1. V.. 2. V.. 3. V.. 4 1. VI.. 3. VI.. 5 1. 29.. Zonotrichia Swainsoii. .... VII.. 30.. Brachyspiza Ridgway. . .. VII.. 31.. Melospiza Baird. 32.. Passerella Swainsoii. VII.. 33.. Oreospiza Ridgway. VII.. V.. 34. Pipilo Vieillot. 3,4,6 5. VIII.. 1,2. Melozone Reichenbach Arremonops Ridgway .... VIII.. 3. XI.. 5. IX.. 1. IX.. 2. X.. 3. 41.. Arremon Vieillot Lysurus Ridgway Atlapetes Wagler Buarremon Bonaparte... Pselliophorus Ridgway. 42.. Pezopetes Cabanis. 43. 44.. Ridgway Camarhynchus Gould. 45.. Geospiza Gould. 46.. Cocornis. 35. 36. 37.. 38. 39.. 40.. 47.. .. .. Platyspiza. . .. Townsend Acanthidops Ridgway.. .. X.. 1. IX.. 3. X.. 2. XIII.. 1. XIII.. 2,3. XIV. XIV.. 1,2. XI.. 3 3. XXIX.

CONTENTS.. XXX. List of Figures Illustrating Gkneric Details. — Continued. Page Plate.. 48.. Haplospiza Cabaiiis. 49. Sicnlis. Boic. ;.. 60.. Volatinia Reioheiibach. f>l. Kucthcia Roichenhacli. .. ',. Ridgway. Fignre.. of text.. XI.. 520. XL. .521. XI.. 525. XVII.. 529. XII.. 544. XII.. 545. 52.. Melaiio.spiza. a?.. Loxipasser Bryant. 54.. Pyrrlmlagra Bonaparte. XII.. 547. 55.. Mclopyrrha Bonaparte. XII.. 561. 56.. Sporophila (^abani.s. XII.. 563. 67.. Amaurospiza Cabanis. XI.. 579. 58.. Cyanospiza Baird. 580. 59.. Cyanocompsa Cabanis. 60.. Oryzoborns Cabanis. XV. XV. XV. XV.. \. 61. (iiiiraca. Swain.son. 62. Zar^^elodia. Cones. G3.. Pheueticns Rcichenbach. 64.. ;. XVII.. 594 603 606 613. XVI.. 621. Pyrrhnloxia Bonaparte. XVIII.. 624. 65.. Cardinalis Bonaparte. XVIII.. 629. 66.. PityluH Cnvier. 651. 67.. Caryotliranstes Reichenbach. 68.. Rhodotliraupis Ridgway. XIX. XVII XIX.. 69.. Saltator Vieillot. XX.. 659. 654 657.

ERRATA. —. Pages 60, 65, 6S, 71, 72, 74, 75, luid 87. For Kodiak read Kadiak. Pages 74 and 75. For I'nalashka read Unalas^ka. Pages 74, 84, 87, 89, 90, and 91.—For Kamtschatka read Kamchatka. Page 74. For Aliaska read Alaska. Page 90, third line from top. For Herschell read Hersehel. Page 134. In vernacular name, for Cuernevaca read Cuernavaca. Page 166. In second paragraph of synonymy, for mccovmii read muccuwnii. Page 183. In seventh line from liottom, for Pooecetes read Poecetcs. Page 184. In beginning of lat^t paragraph, for Pooecetes read PoceceteK. Page 192. In vernacular name for Savannah read Savanna. Page 242. In vernacular name for Oaxaca read P^jutla. There in another Oaxaca. —. — — — — — — —. —. Sparrow {Aimoph'da rufirrps australis, p. 250). Page 250. In vernacular name, for Etzatlan read Jalisco. There lan Sparrow {Aimopldla rufescens pallida, p. 245). Page 596. In fourth line from top, for concrete read coucreta.. —. —. is. another Etzat-.



THE BIRDS NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA, By Robert Ridgway, Ctirator, lyirhion of Birds.. Ornithology ("'from opviH-^ crude form of opvig, a ))ird, and Aok/(T, Xoyog^ commonly Englished n discourse""')^ is '"the methodical study and consequent knowledge of birds, with all that relates. allied to. thereto."''. There are two essentially different kinds of ornithology: sy.stematic The former deals with the structure and scientific^ and popular. classification of birds, their synon3'mies and technical descriptions. The latter treats of their habits, songs, nesting, and other facts pertaining to their life-histories. Although apparently distinct from one another, these two branches of ornithology are in reality closel}* related and to a degree interdependent. The systematist w^ho does not possess an intimate knowledge of the habits of birds, their mode of nidification, the character of their nests, eggs, and young, is poorly equipped or. for the. work he. has in hand, while the popular Writer. of scientific ornithology and. progress. is. who. who. is. ignorant. neglects to keep in touch with. placed at an equal disadvantage. — his writings. may. its. enter-. Imt are far more apt to mislead, through erroneous statements, Popular ornithology is the more entertaining, with its savor of the wildwood, green fields, the riverside and seashore, bird songs, and the manj' fascinating things connected with out-of-door Nature. But systematic ornithology, being a component part of biology the science of life is the more instructive and therefore more important. Each advance in this serious study reveals just so tain,. than educate.. —. —. 1. Newton, Dictionary. of Birds, 1894, p. 657.. ^Idein., introduction, p.. 17024—01. 1. 1.. 1.

BULLETIN. UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.. 50,. bidden mysteries of creation, and adds proportionately to the sum of human knowledge.^ Birds constitute a far mor(> homoo-eneous group than any other class of the animal kingdom, and their classitication i.s therefore a matter of. much more. unusual. of. According to universal agreement, they constitute Ayes, whose characters and subdivisions (according to. ditticulty.. a single class.. our. th(>. iM'i'-iMil. i<ii'.. >\vl(Hlg(»). are as follows:. CLASS AVES.— BIRDS. ''. Birds AYd feathered vertehrate animals. The more recent investigations of comparative anatomists have gradually eliminated. th(>. supposed exclusive characters of birds, as a Glass until only the single one mentioned above,. Animal Kingdom,. of the. No other structural character is the possession of feathers, remains. possessed by them which is not shared either })y the Class Reptilia or Cla.ss Manuualia; but "no bird is without feathers, and no animal is invested with feathers except the birds. ""^ related to reptiles that in ditier. from mammals. all. the}". Indeed, so closeh^ are birds. other structural characters whereby they. agree with reptiles; and notwithstanding. their extreme dissimilarity in appearance and habits thc}^ are essentially. '•an extremely modified and aberrant Reptilian type.''*. Birds differ from. all. Mammals. (1). Possession of feathers.. (2). A])sence of milk glands.. (3). Single occipital condyle.. ^The most complete review. of. in the following characters:. the history of ornithology. is. introduction to Professor Newton's Dictionary of Birds (London:. The MacmUlan Company, New York). -The following diagnosis of the class is given by G.vdow, 1S92, p. 2m:. that forming the. Adam and. Charles. Black, 1893-189();. in Proi-. Zool. Soc.. Lond.. Oviparous, warm-blooded, amniotic vertebrates which liave their anterior extremtransformed into wings. Metacarpus and fingers carrying feathers or quills.. ities. With an. intcrtar.sal joint. Not more than four toes, of which the first is the hallux. This later (A Classification of Yertebrata recent and extinct, bSHS, p. 30) amended. as follows:. Warm-blooded, oviparous, Amniota, AUantoidie.. Occipital condyle single.. Quad-. rate movable. ers.. Anterior extremities transformed into wings. Covered with feathWith intertarsal joint. Not more than four toes, of which the first is the. hallux.. •'Stejxeger, Standard Natural History,. iv, 1885, p. 1. Dr. Stejneger's most excelthe work cited) should be consulted by those who desire more detailed information on the subject.. lent article (pp. 1-20 of. ^Newtox, in the article on Ornithology in the Encyclo])fedia Britannica; also llrxLEV, Lectures on the Elements of Comparative Anatomy, ]>. (>9; Carus, Handl»uch der Zoologie, p. 192..

—. ——. —. (4). ——. —. AND MIDDLE AMERICA.. BIRDS OF NORTH. 3. Articulation of the lower jaw with u .separate bone. {os. qxad-. ratum), which again articulates with the skull.. Absence of a diaphragm. differ from Reptiles in. (5). They. Possession of feathers.. (1). (2) Complete circulation of warm blood. Mammals.). The. fact that Reptiles, as well as Birds,. (In this. Birds agree with. la}^. eggs, and that the nidi-. some members of the two Classes is practically identical (e. Crocodilia and avian Megapodid* (a group of Perithe reptilian g., steropode Gallinfe), is too well known to require more than mere mention here; but the mammalian Monotremata also lay eggs, while furthermore one of the latter {OnuthorJiynckus^ the duck mole of tication of. Australia), possesses a ver}- duck-like beak.. KEY TO THE. Sl'BCLASSES OF AVES.. Metacarpals separate, the first finger with 2, the second and third each witli 8, digits; caudal vertebneahout 21, not terminating in a pygostyle; primaries not more than 7; rectrices attached in pairs (about 12), each to a caudal vertebra.. (I.. Subclass Saururae.' a<i.. Metacarpals fused; caudal vertebne not more than 13, of which about half are usually fused into a pygostyle;^ primaries 10-16;'^ rectrices not attached to Subclass Ornithurffi.*. separate vertebrte. The Subclass Saururte (i\.rchteornitlies of Gadow) is represented only by the extinct (Upper Jurassic) ArcJueopteryx,' all existing birds belonging to the Ornithura' (Neornithes of Gadow). The construction of a ''key" to the orders and other supergeneric groups of the Subclass Ornithurte, which shall serve for ready identification and at the same time express the mutual relationships and comparatiA'e taxonomic value of the different groups, has been found a most difficult task. When the highest authorities disagree, as they. —. ^Sauriurx Haeckel, Gen. Morph. Org. 1866, Saururx Huxley, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1867, 418; Carus, Handb. Zool., i, 1868,367; Newton, Enc. Brit., xviii, 1884, 44; Ste.j.\eger, Stand. Nat. Hist., iv, 1885, 21; Cope, Am. Nat., xxiii, 1889, 869;. Beddard,. Struct,. and. Classif. Birds, 1898, 529.. Cope,. Hist., iv, 1885, 21;. Unters. Morph. Syst.Vog.,. Vog.,. ii,. Morph.. Am. ii,. Nat.. xxiii,. 1888, 1565.. OrttilJiopappi Ste.tneger, Stand. Nat.. 1889, 869.. ArcJioniithes. Fuerbrixger,. Archieornithes Gat>ow, Bronn'sThier-Reichs. 1893, 86, 299.. Archseopterygiformes. Syst. Vog.,. 1888, 1565.. ii,. .. and Archxopteryges Fcerbringer, Unters. Beddard, Struct, and Classif. Birds,. Saurornithes. 1898, 529. '•'Exceptions to the presence of a pygostyle are the Division Ratitse, Orders Cryptu-. riformes and Sphenisciformes, and Suborder Podicipedes.. ^Sometimes the tenth (outermost) primary. is rudimentary, even to such a degree * apparently absent. ^Ornithune Haeckel, Gen. Morph. Org., 1866, Beddard, Struct, and Classif. Birds, 1898, IQ7 .—Xeornithes Gadow, Bronn's Thier-Reichs, Vog., ii, 1893, 90, 299;. that. it is. —. Classif.,. Vertebr. 1898, xiv, 30.. ;.

BULLETIN. 4. 50,. UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.. ronccrniiig the position or rank of certain forms, it of course becomes necessary to consider carefully the points of disagreement, to tlo,. weinh impartially the evidence and arouments adduced by the advocates of such divcro-ont decisions, and,. if. possible, decide independently as. to the seemino-ly better allocation of the. been attempted. in the. form. scious that his disposition of such doubtful cases especially wiien ditlerent. from previous. This has. in question.. following scheme, but the author. may. still. is. fully con-. not be. decisions, as in a. tinal,. few cases. has been the result of his revision. It is unfortunate that those who possess the most thorough knowledge of avian anatoni}' and morphology do not always seem to have succeeded in satisfactorily diagnosing the groups which they adopt, nor in clearly presenting* a synthetic sunnnary of the facts revealed through their investigations. So-called diagnoses are sometimes. found, when carefully analyzed, to be really not diagnostic at. more often thev prove. to be so in part only.. A. b}". all;. no means extreme. example, the case of the Limicolse and Lari (suborders of the Order Charadriiformes), as defined in Gadow's Classification of Vertebrata These two groups are (1898, p. 35), may be given for illustration. thus characterized by Dr. Gadow:. LiMicoL^.. — "Nidifugous,. schizognathous. without spina interna hypotarsus complicated."' Lari. ""Aquatic, schizognathous, vomer complete. Without basipterygoid processes. Front toes webbed; hallux small or absent. Large supraorbital glands." sterni;. Of. —. the characters mentioned in these two diagnoses the following are to the two groups, and therefore are not diagnostic of either:. common. Nidifugous young;' (2) schizognathism; (3) complete vomer; absence of spina interna sterni; (5) absence of basipterygoid processes;- (6) webbing of front toes;^ (7) small or obsolete hallux; (8) aquatic habits.* (1) (4). The. differential characters of the tw^o. groups are thus reduced to. the following:. LiMicoLiE.. —H3^potarsus complicated;. supraorbital glands small.. Lari.— Hypotarsus simple; supraorbital glands large. With this example of so-called Suborders which are. characterized. by a very small numl)er of relatively unimportant differences may ))e contrasted that of the several subdivisions of the Order Gruiformes, to which Dr. Gadow only allows family rank, although apparently far better characterized than the so-called suborders of Charadriiformes,. The young of the Lari are not, more nearly so than nidicolous. '. it is true, strictly. nidifugous, but they are often. '. 'Basipterygoid jirocesses are present in some LimiroLr, absent in others. front toes are webbed in sonie Limicohie (e. g., Ilhiaudopus). *Tlie Phalaropes are quite as truly aquatic as Gulls.. 'The.

.. AMERICA. BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE fvom one another than Gruiformes themselves. t^o orders Charadriiformes and Gruiform groups differ as follows:' indeed, they be not. if,. Metasternum. a. entire;. ^-. 'ZL incun^W;. ai-e. distinct. deep plantar tendons. tSfiXZ:f or. ,. more. of. r. Type. the. I,. tail. not large and fan-. elongated; hallux (Jacanid.), the claws excessively U-I5; cervical vertehr.. -^^l^^: ^-^^. powder-down patches present and Meta-ternum2-notchedor else (Eurypyga.) or .t of tendons of Type II or plantar deep th" tail large and fan-shaped; nidicolous. young and fan-shaped; Tvpe I (Eurypyga^) the tail large .leep gland nude (except Eurypyga^, part); Re trie s 12; aftershaft present; oil young P^^^^P-^; teUns of Type I or IV; toes not lobated;. R. I. )!. (Aramid^) first primary >nnchi;;;hinai; haUux small, elevated, or else entire ^ metasternum 17-20; falcate-spatulate; cervical vertebraB. IJ,. aa. the. These. plantar. c. cervical Furcula Y-shaped; nasals holorhinal;. T aulaBXY;. biceps slip absent;. cubital; tail moderate;. ^-P. vertel^ra'. no powder-down patches;. mjological. 14-lo,. plantar tendons o. Type. bill shorter. ,. n;a^^^^^^^^^^. than head,. hallux elevated, with rong, the maxilla decurved; f-^^'y^^'l'^^'^) -Cariam^ =Dicholophida, of Gadow ) cursorial.) and arboreal;. (Terrestrial. (. -. cervical vertebra. 18; myologicalfor... Fm-ula U-shaped; nasals schizorhinal; plantar tendons Type I; aqmntodeep present; slip mnla ABXY; biceps powder-down patches present; bill longer "bUal- tail large, fan-shaped; with sn.all and moderately curved decumbent, hallux than tad, strafght; (Aquatic and arboreal; grallatonal). claw. Rhinochetidaj of Gaoou ) Eurypygffi ( =Eurvpvgida; tendonsot Type 11; plantar deep tufted; RectriceslS; aftershaft absent; oil gland I,,, ot (.a.o. ). gymnopa.dic..Heliornithes(=Heliornithid. toeslobated; young. -. Di-^ it may he stated that Reverting to the order Charadriiformes, and es, Pteroc Lan, Gadow recognizes four suborders (Limicola^,. nevertheless, that the. Columb^. Columb^) as groups of equal value; Limicol. or Lari than these two are Ir^ Ir more diffexLt fro!n the from the evidence, which may from one another is perfectly obvious be summarized as follows: cursorial; vomer vyell LiMicoLJ^+LAEi.-Aquatic, limicoline, or young nidifunctional; tracheo-bronchial; c.^ca developed; syrinx. and ptilop^edic. least not strictly nidicolous) rudimentary or absent; CoLUMB^.-Arboreal and terrestrial; vomer nonfunctional; young nidi-. fugous (or. at"'. c^ca syrinx tracheal or sterno-tracheal; gymnopsedic. colous and. ""^^Ti^T^TT^^^T^biTtiT^;;;^^. constituted in Dr. Gadow' s scheme, ^re^sfo.^' Ch:i^drl forni a„a Gruiformes, as opi^thoc^lous; metastei^jmn^^^^^^^^^^ vertebne CHAKADKn.oKMES.-Dorsal. metasternum GKriFOHMES.-Dorsal vertebra, heteroc.elous; '-^''^fZr^^Ld groups are -^^'^ that aware perfectly ^ The author is, of course, characters; ^^ -"^^^^ absolutely exclusive ^^^^^ bv combinations than by sets of f^ they when latter, the employ to '<kev" it becomes necessary com ^^^f; ^^^^ ^^^J^?become taxonomic value, otherwise the keys without regard to their relative. ^"^^^^"^^^. plicated. and unmanageable..