plumage is of a pale, colour intermediate, between oil-green and wax-yellow, the under tail
coverts approaching to ochre-yellow. Bill blackish-brown. Legs black.
Form, &c.—Bill depressed, broad, its breadth at the forehead being rather more than half
its length ; its sides are slightly convex, and meet in a straight ridge, which is terminated by
a small hooked tip. The nostrils are partly concealed by feathers and bristles, and there are
four or five stiff bristles projecting from the angles of the mouth. The tips of the wings, when
folded, are more, than an inch short of the end of the tail, and barely reach to half its length.
The third and fourth quill feathers are the longest, the second and fifth are equal to each
other, and slightly shorter than these; the sixth is a quarter of an inch shorter than the
fourth,, and. the first is intermediate in length between the sixth and seventh. The tail is
distinctly forked, the exterior feather being a quarter of an inch longer than the middle ones.
Dimensions.
Length from the tip of the bill to the end of Inches.
the tail . . . . . 6 8
Length of the bill, measured on its ridge
„ of the tarsus . . .
Inches.
•. P0
Lines;
,, of the tail. , ... 2 9 ,, of the middle toe 7i 0 „ of the longeslrquill feather 2 11 ,, of its claw . . • o 2|
H • £ of the folded wing 3 3 „ of the hind toe 0 3
,, of the bill from the angle of the
,, of the hind nail , , . 0
mouth . . . . . 0 9
— R .
3
* The following differences in the colour of the plumage, which were detected by comparing a fine specimen of
Tyrannula nuneiola, killed in Pennsylvania, and now in Mr. Swainson’s museum, with the new species, may be mentioned
in addition to the specific distinctions noticed in the preceding page. In T. nuneiola the upper aspect of the
head is pitch-black; in T. Richardsonii it is very dark greyisb-brown, without any approach to black. The dorsal
plumage in both presents tints of hair-brown, but in the former the colour is a little clearer. The quill and tail feathers
are blackish-brown in T. nuneiola, and their shafts are black; in T. Richardsonii they are liver-brown, and the shafts
are umber-brown. In T. nuneiola the tips of the greater coverts are pale yellowish-grey, and the secondaries and
tertiaries are rather broadly edged exteriorly-with white; these parts in T, Richardsonii appear merely of a paler
brown, as if faded or worn. The under plumage in T. nuneiola is a clear primrose-yellow; whereas in T. Richardsonii
it is straw or ochre-yellow posteriorly, and on the throat and sides of the breast is intermixed with much brownish-
grey.. We may add also, with regard to structure, that the most decided difference appears in the greater stoutness of
the legs and feet of T. nuneiola. The middle scales of the tarsus wrap round it with some degree of obliquity, there
being no smaller scales interposed at the suture behind, except near the joints; whereas in T. Richardsonii the posterior
part of the tarsus is covered throughout its whole length by an intervening row of smaller scales, and the anterior
scales are transverse, not oblique.
Dimensions
Of T. nuneiola.
Length from the tip of the bill to the endInches. Lines. Length of the bill to the angle of the mouthI nch0es. .'Lines 10i
of the tail *. . . a 7 ■ „ of the tarsus . ., . 0 8
of the tail 3 0 „ ■ of the middle toe . . ‘ . 0 4f ,, of the longest quill feather . . 3 0 ,, . of the middle nail . . . 0 2£
,, of the folded wing . . 3 4* „ of the hind toe 0 3*
,, of the bill on its ridge . . 0 7 ,, of the hind nail . . . . 0 3
MERULIDjE.— THRUSHES.
The Thrushes,, as we have already seen, constitute the second family of the Denti-
rostres. When viewed in reference to that particular formation of the bill from
which the name of this tribe has been derived, the Merulidte are clearly inferior to
the Laniadw.. But if we regard the general perfection of their structure, we can
be at no loss to discover in this family a. decided superiority over the last.- The
feet are no longer so feebly or so partially constructed as to be specially adapted
for any one purpose- In the true Shrikes and the Bush Shrikes, these members,
although not of great strength, are nevertheless of a stronger make than in the
aberrant group ; they are longer, more muscular, and apparently capable of much
locomotion. This is particularly seen among the latter, where a feebleness of
wing betrays an incapacity for much flight. But neither in these, typical groups,
much less in the short-legged Edolianai, Ceblepyrinte, or Tyrannince, do we find
more than one or two solitary examples of walking birds; indeed, the finely-acute
and well-curved claws, which is one of the great characteristics of the Shrikes,
evinces a natural disqualification for such an office. The above exceptions are the
genera Prionops and Saurophagus. These occupy aberrant stations, and evince
the partiality of nature for making her transitions through ambulatory birds, even
in a family so truly arborial as the Laniadce. But in the group we are now to investigate, the structure of the feet is altogether
different. There is not only a considerable augmentation of muscular
strength thrown into these members, but they are equally well adapted either for
perching or walking, for constant use in moving among trees, or habitual exercise
upon the ground. The Fieldfare, the Blackbird, and all the true Thrushes, are
familiar examples of this typical perfection. Like the Corvine family, of which,
in point of fact, they are the true representatives, these birds make their way
upon the ground, in the air, or among trees, with equal facility. The Fieldfares
and the Crows mutually assemble during the autumn in vast flocks, spread over our
pastures, and traverse the ground in all directions, searching for nearly the same
description of food. This perfection in the foot is more or less conspicuous
throughout the whole of this family, and hence becomes one of its most typical
characters.